The US Federal Reserve wraps up its two-day policy meeting today, with Chair Jerome Powell set to announce the rate decision at 11:30 am IST. The meeting began on April 28 and markets are watching closely for any signal on the direction of US interest rates. Wall Street futures are mixed ahead of the decision, reflecting uncertainty among investors. The backdrop includes ongoing US-Iran tensions, which add a layer of geopolitical risk to an already sensitive monetary policy moment. Powell's press conference will be parsed for any shift in tone on inflation, growth, or the timeline for rate changes. For Indian markets, a Fed hold with a cautious outlook could steady the rupee and foreign portfolio flows, while any hawkish surprise may pressure emerging market assets. The key thing to watch is not just the rate call itself, but whether the Fed signals any change in its future path given the current global environment.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
Venezuela's twin earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, have killed at least 164 people and injured 971, interim president Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Thursday. The quakes are the country's strongest since 1900, collapsing buildings across Caracas and prompting a state of emergency, with the death toll expected to rise as
