World Economy

War could cut global growth to 1.3%: World Bank Chief Economist Gill

The World Bank warned that a prolonged US-Iran conflict could slow global growth to 1.3% in 2026, while fuelling inflation, higher interest rates and debt pressures

Next trade order needs stronger developing-world voice: ICC Chair

Harsh Pati Singhania says his ICC tenure will focus on giving developing economies a stronger voice in global trade, AI governance and digital standards

Global energy transition readiness dips, India among top gainers: WEF

Global energy transition readiness has declined for the first time in more than a decade amid a surge in geopolitical risks, but India has registered one of the strongest improvements, a new report showed on Thursday. Sweden, Finland and Denmark retained their top three positions globally on the World Economic Forum's Energy Transition Index 2026, while India advanced two places to rank 70th. "India was one of the strongest improvers globally in the Energy Transition Index 2026, recording one of the largest gains in transition readiness and strengthening its position as a key player in the next phase of the global energy transition," the WEF said. It attributed India's improvement to stronger energy transition readiness and broad-based system gains, driven by a sharp rise in infrastructure, alongside improvements in equity, sustainability and financial investment. The proportion of low-carbon jobs increased by 24 per cent in India in 2024, as renewable energy jobs reached 1.3 milli

Nations brace for long-term economic woes as Trump rejects Iran's proposal

President Trump said the fragile cease-fire was on 'life support,' and India's leader urged residents to cut back on purchases and travel

As the US closes its doors, world economies must prepare for a new future

How the US is abandoning the openness that helped it win the Cold War

IMF upgrades India's FY27 GDP growth to 6.4% despite trade risks

For FY26, the Fund, in its World Economic Outlook, revised its GDP growth forecast upwards to 7.3%

Datanomics: Brics, SCO gain ground, but G7 holds the edge in GDP and trade

Putin questioned G7's economic dominance, as new data shows BRICS and SCO nations overtaking the bloc in global GDP share under purchasing power metrics

The perils of economic centrism in a polarised world: Growth or restraint?

While stimulating the economy during a downturn is important, the size of the stimulus needs to be calibrated, especially if it leads to very high debt

The US Federal Reserve might be more dovish than Jerome Powell thinks

Granted, the Fed's monetary policy doesn't directly determine economic growth. It operates by influencing broader financial conditions, which have eased a lot in the past year

World economy yet to feel full impact of Trump's tariffs, warns OECD

The full impact from an overall effective tariff rate imposed by the White House of 19.5 per cent - the highest since 1933 - has yet to be felt, officials said

Midpoint of Trump's tariff hiatus to reveal increasingly unsettled world

Chinese consumer and industry data on Monday will be followed by purchasing manager indexes on Thursday from around the world

WEF courts Christine Lagarde as next leader after founder's abrupt exit

As the board deals with the fallout, it still sees Lagarde as the top candidate and has held internal discussions on the matter since Schwab's resignation last month

Global economy already the feeling drag from Donald Trump's tariffs

Big-name multinationals right down to niche e-commerce players last week cut sales targets, warned of job cuts and reviewed their business plans, while major economies revised down growth prospects

WEF founder Klaus Schwab to step down as chair of board of trustees

He did not give a timeline for his departure from the organisation, but the WEF said in a statement to the FT that the process should be completed by January 2027

Greenland votes on March 11 amid calls for independence, Trump's interest

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede criticised Trump's remarks, stating the island deserves respect and will prioritise relations with nations that acknowledge its sovereignty

Five years on, economic impact of Covid-19 still reshaping markets

Though the immediate shock has passed, Covid-19's legacy continues to reshape global economies and markets

Blow hot or blow cold? Trusted indicators give conflicting signals

How could we find our way out of this gloom to a happier scenario?

What is MAGAnomics? The economics behind Trump's 'America First'

A reckoning is in order, not just with Trumpism but with the assumptions that made it possible in the first place

US producer inflation trends higher; labour market remains stable

December rise in the PPI revised up to 0.5% from 0.2%

Echoes of the 1980s: Inflation, wars, and slowing growth resurface globally

The decade was also marked by the so-called "Star Wars". This was an American effort to bankrupt the USSR by pretending to develop space-based weapons