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Taiwan has received assurances from a'major country' about LNG supplies
Taiwan's economy minister announced on Saturday that the energy minister of a "major country" producing liquefied gas had given Taiwan assurances about supply. He was speaking in relation to the?impact of the Iran War on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, which is a major producer of semiconductors, relied on Qatar to supply around a third its LNG prior to the conflict. It has now said that it has secured alternative supplies from countries such as Australia and the United States for the months ahead. Kung Ming Hsin, Taiwan's Economy Minister, told reporters in Taipei that Taiwan enjoys good relations with its?crude gas and natural oil suppliers. Therefore, adjusting the origin of shipments or purchasing additional spot -cargoes will not be a problem. Kung stated that the energy minister from a "major energy producing country" had contacted him about two weeks prior. The person "explained that they would fully support our natural gas needs. He added that if we had any requests, we could let them know. Kung added: "Another nation even stated that certain countries had released strategic petroleum reserves and could help coordinate the matter if Taiwan needed assistance." He said, "This shows Taiwan has earned considerable international goodwill through the long-term confidence it has built." He refused to identify the countries involved. Angela Lin, spokesperson of state-owned refiner CPC said that at the same?newsconference, crude oil inventories are being maintained at levels prior to conflict and that overall petrochemical supply has remained stable. CPC Chairman Fang Jeng Zen said that a new agreement with the U.S. would see 1.2 millions metric tons of LNG delivered?annually. He added that Taiwan does not intend to import crude oil or LNG from Russia. (Reporting and editing by Ben Blanchard, Roger Tung and Joe Bavier).
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Five EU Finance Ministers Call for Tax on Windfall Profits of Energy Companies
In response to fuel prices rising due to the Iran War, five?European Union Finance Ministers have called for a tax to be placed on the 'windfall profits' of energy companies. This was revealed in a letter sent to the EU Commission on Saturday. In a joint letter dated on Friday, the finance ministers from Germany, Italy Spain Portugal and Austria called for such a move, stating that it would "signal" to others that they are united and capable of taking action. They wrote: "It will also send a message that those who benefit from the war's consequences must do their part in easing the burden of?the public." Since the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on 28 February, oil and gas prices have risen dramatically. This is similar to the energy crises Europe experienced after Russia invaded Ukraine - in '2022 - despite the fact that EU countries are now getting more of their energy from renewable sources. LETTER HIGHLIGHTS 'MARKET DISTORTIONS' In a letter addressed to EU Climate commissioner Wopke Hekstra, the Ministers referred to the possibility of a similar tax to be implemented in 2022 as a way to combat high energy prices. They wrote: "Given current market distortions, and fiscal constraints the European Commission must develop quickly a similar EU wide contribution instrument based on a sound legal basis." The letter did not specify the level of windfall taxes that ministers would propose, nor which companies should be affected. The energy chief of the bloc said on Tuesday that it is considering reviving measures taken in response to the energy crisis in 2022. This includes proposals to "curb grid rates" and taxes on electricity. After Russia cut off gas deliveries, the EU implemented a series of emergency policies. These included a?EU-wide gas price cap, a tax imposed on windfall profits of energy companies, and targets to?reduce gas demand. The Middle East conflict has a significant impact on the global energy prices. Since the U.S. and Israel war against?Iran started on February 28, European gas prices have risen'more than 70%. Dan Jorgensen, EU Energy Commissioner, said that Brussels is particularly worried about the supply of refined petroleum in Europe such as diesel and jet fuel. Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Tom Sims, Editing by Alison Williams
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Senegal bans travel by government officials as Iran oil shock affects public finances
Senegal has banned all travel abroad by top officials and ministers that is not essential. The government warned of "extremely challenging" times as a result of the U.S./Israeli conflict with Iran, which will increase global oil prices, straining Senegal's budget. The price of Brent crude has soared and governments have been urged to act to reduce the negative effects. Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane sonko, speaking at a youth event on Friday night in Mbour, pointed out that oil is trading for about $115 per barrel, almost twice what was assumed to be the price in Senegal’s budget projections. He announced that he has already cancelled his own trips to Niger and France. The?crisis has prompted governments across West Africa and the world to take a number of?measures, including increases in fuel prices, subsidies and remote work. Sonko said that such actions were a "justification" for Senegal, a debt-ridden country. He said that?additional?measures would be announced next?week, and the Energy and Mines?Minister is expected to address?the?nation in the?coming?days?to detail efforts to mitigate?the impact of the?price shock. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier, Diadie Ba and Bate Felix)
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AI is revolutionizing the most prolific film industry in the world
Welcome to the new look movie set. The cacophony created by cameras, clapperboards, and shouted instructions has been replaced with the quiet hum from a coding room. Collective Artists Network is a leading talent agency that represents Bollywood's A-listers. It has been facilitating the careers of superstars for many years. It's now engineering digital ones. The Bengaluru facility uses artificial intelligence to create content that is based on Hindu mythology, a genre popular in India. In a movie based on a religious text called "Ramayana," there is a scene where the god Hanuman is seen flying with a mountain in his arms. The show "Mahabharat" is based on another ancient epic. It features a scene depicting princess Gandhari who blindfolded her eyes when she married a blind king. India is the country that produces most movies, and its stars like Shah Rukh Khan or?Amitabh?Bachchan have cult followings. Many?industry participants say that changing audience habits and the growth of streaming are impacting production budgets. Ormax Media, a consulting firm, says that moviegoers will drop to 832 millions in 2025 compared to 1.03 billion people in 2019. Box-office sales last year?hit an all-time high of $1.4 billion, but revenue has been choppy and dependent on a few hits and more expensive tickets since the pandemic. To view this story on.com go to India's studios are deploying AI on a massive scale, releasing films in multiple languages and even recutting the endings of old titles in order to increase sales. They are also reshaping filmmaking economics by reducing production timelines and utilizing AI to improve efficiency. Rahul Regulapati is the head of Collective's AI Studio, Galleri5. How about production time? He said, "down to a quarter." Hollywood has taken a different approach, with union contracts and concerns about job loss limiting studios' adoption of AI. Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are making early bets in India by partnering local filmmakers. At least one major production company is reviewing its entire catalog for AI rereleases. In previous reporting, we have explored the ways in which Indian filmmakers harness AI and India's divergence from Hollywood. The first report to detail the extent of India's film industries?reorganization around AI, and the economics that are driving this shift. This story includes interviews with 25 people, including directors and studio heads. American and British studios are experimenting with AI filmmaking. They will produce the first full-length AI animation features in 2024, and an AI powered immersive version of 'The Wizard of Oz' last year. Dominic Lees said that India's film-makers' ambitions are at a?different level. He is a researcher in AI and film at the University of Reading, Britain. He said that if India can meet the demands, it will become a leader in AI filmmaking. India's pivot towards AI is a reflection of its embracement of technology in general. India bet last year that embracing AI would create enough opportunities to offset any short-term disruption. According to an analysis by EY, AI could increase revenue for Indian media and entertainment companies by 10% while reducing costs by 15% in the medium term. Vikram malhotra, the founder of Abundantia Entertainment told reporters that Abundantia Entertainment is building their AI capability from scratch. The Bollywood production house recently announced an investment of $11 million in a studio for AI. NEW ENDINGS FOR OLD DRAMAS India's Eros Media World released "Raanjhanaa" with an AI-altered version last year. The film replaced the tragic ending in which the protagonist dies with a happier conclusion where the lover smiles through tears when he opens his eyes. Rewrites drew criticism. Dhanush, Dhanush is the name of the actor who plays the main role. He said on X, that the AI remake "stripped away the film's very soul." It also set a "deeply worrying precedent for artists and art." The re-released "Raanjhanaa", however, still attracted audiences. PVR Inox India's biggest cinema chain reported that 35% of tickets for the Tamil-language version were sold in August, the month when the film was released. This was 12 percentage points more than the average for 2025. Eros has gone further. Pradeep Dwivedi is the group CEO and he said that Eros was reviewing its 3,000 titles catalog to "identify candidates for AI-assisted adaption." Last year, Eros' Indian unit Eros International warned about "competition by digital platforms," as its annual consolidated revenue from operations dropped 44%. Dwivedi explained that the AI rewrites are both a revenue-generating opportunity and a strategy for creative renewal. Hollywood would have to deal with such changes. A deal with the U.S. actors union SAGAFTRA prohibits studios from digitally altering an actor's performance, or creating a digital copy without informed consent. The Directors Guild of America contract prohibits studios from relying on AI to make creative decisions without consulting directors and forbids AI from performing the work of their members. Indian studios are experimenting aggressively with AI in Hindu mythology tales. This is big business for a country that has millions of devotees. Collective plans eight AI-generated titles focusing on deities like Hanuman and Krishna. JioStar is a joint venture media company between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Media and Walt Disney. It airs an AI-generated version of the Hindu epic “Mahabharat” – the first episode series that emerged from Collective’s cinematic AI laboratory. JioStar said that the AI version of the story about a dynastic battle between princes, which was released in October on the streaming platform by JioStar, has attracted 26.5 million viewers since its release. A previous TV adaptation attracted 200 million viewers from 1988 to 1990. However, the show has been met with a mixed reception by audiences. IMDb gives "Mahabharat", a 1.4-star rating. Some reviewers cite lip-syncing issues, while others say that some scenes are low-quality and lack authenticity because of unnatural styling. Alok Jain is a senior executive with JioStar. He stated that the response has been "a mixture of appreciation and healthy discussion, which is normal for any ambitious creative step." JioStar also plans to make original stories using AI. Some film industry figures have expressed concern about the use of AI. Jonathan Taplin, a writer and producer from the United States who has worked for Hollywood studios, says that the use of AI to create feature films is an "affront to all of cinema's history." He said, "It'll fill your screens and cinemas with formula slop." AI DUBBING The acceptance of AI may be easier to achieve through dubbing. India has 22 official languages, and there are hundreds of dialects. Dubbing is essential to make a movie a blockbuster in India. AI is now beginning to solve the problem of mismatched lip movements, a complaint that audiences have had for years. Subhabrata Debnath, the co-founder of NeuralGarage in Bengaluru, a startup that offers dubbing services to top studios such as Yash Raj Films and other major studios, demonstrated a clip showing an AI-generated English character. Subhabrata Debnath then added a German audio track and the character spoke fluent German within minutes. Debnath explained that the technology preserved "the performance, the identity and the speaking styles of the person", while modifying the face to look natural. Last year, NeuralGarage AI technology was used to translate Yashraj's Hindi film "War 2" from the Hindi language into Telugu of south India. The production house did not respond to any questions. The Red Carpet meets the RED MAJORS Tech giants around the world are also interested in getting a piece. Google partnered in August with Bollywood director Shakun Bhatra to produce a 5-part cinematic'series' using Veo 3 video generation and Flow AI to experiment with AI powered filmmaking. Mira Lane is Google's Vice President of Technology and Society. She said that AI can also help independent artists create complex sequences which "might be otherwise out of reach because of budget or logistical limitations." Microsoft has been working on a collaboration with Collective, and it said that Microsoft would be providing AI computing power in order to "shape" the next wave of global story-telling through such collaborations. Collective uses a hybrid approach of digital animation and physical recording to bypass the limitations of text prompts. The actors wear motion-capture suits equipped with sensors to capture body movements in 3D, while their smartphones record facial expressions. This data is then fed into the AI pipeline to allow for more nuanced control of the AI generated characters. The ripples go beyond the studio. Festivals dedicated to AI-generated shorts have proliferated around the world, including in Los Angeles, Cannes and Barcelona. India's first event took place at Mumbai's Royal Opera House in November, when young storytellers and a robot walked down the red carpet. In February, Nvidia was on stage in New Delhi with the second edition of India’s AI Film Festival. Pradeep Gupta told the audience that Nvidia is working on reducing computing costs to allow anyone "to create something substantial" without spending a lot of cash. Anurag Kashyap is a Bollywood Director who expressed concern about the use of AI and its growth in India. He reluctantly acknowledged the economic benefits of studios deploying the technology. In India, cinema doesn't revolve around art. "It's just business. Studios will use it to create mythologicals," Kashyap stated of AI. "Our audience loves it."
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Vietnam's Q1 growth slows due to Middle East energy testing 2026.
Data showed that the economy of Vietnam slowed down in the first three months compared to the previous three months. This was due to a 'heavy exposure' to Middle Eastern oil imports, which boosted inflation, making it difficult for the country reach its annual growth goal, officials said. The National Statistics Office reported that the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.83% from January to the end of March compared with the same period last year, but fell below the 8.46% growth rate in the fourth quarter. The NSO said on Saturday that "the pressure from rising energy and input prices remains, posing a challenge for economic governance." It said that consumer prices increased by 4.65% on an annual basis in March, due to a 10.81% increase in transport costs. This was a significant acceleration from the 3.35% rise in February. The Southeast Asian economy is facing pressure to meet its growth target for this year of at least 10%. This is because it imports over 80% of its crude oil from the Middle East where the Iran War, which has now entered its sixth week of conflict, has disrupted supplies. Nguyen Th Huong, Director of the NSO, said: "Vietnam's socio-economic condition continues to face challenges, and meeting 2026 growth targets remains a major challenge." The rising?fuel price has prompted Vietnamese airlines to cut back on operations, and the government to try to reduce costs. This includes reducing taxes, subsidising fuel prices, and encouraging remote working to reduce consumption. The growth rate was higher than the 7.5% annual expansion in the first quarter 2025. The report stated that exports increased 20.1% to $46.44 Billion in March from a year ago. The report said that March industrial production increased 6.9% compared to a year ago, but was slower than the growth of 8.6% during the same month last year. Petrolimex, a leading fuel retailer in Vietnam has reported that the war has caused gasoline and diesel prices to increase by 21% and 84% respectively. Senior officials have sought alternative oil suppliers from Gulf states, Japan and South Korea. Vietnam's imports in March rose by 27.8%, to $47.11 Billion. This represents a trade deficit of 670 M$. Exports grew 19.1% in the first quarter to $122,93 billion while imports grew 27.0% to $126.57 billion. This led to a $3.64 billion deficit. Retail sales increased 10.9% in the third quarter. The NSO reported that foreign investment inflows for the first quarter of this year rose by 9.1% compared to the same period last year, to $5.41 Billion. Meanwhile, pledges, which are indicative of future inflows grew 42.9%, to $15.2 Billion. Pham 'Minh Chinh, the Prime Minister, said that Vietnam would maintain its 10% growth target despite current challenges. He promised to take steps like?increased public investment, diversification of supply chains and export markets, and greater public investments. Chinh said at a cabinet session that "Our country faces many limitations, shortcomings and challenges, as well as risks and difficulties related to macroeconomic management, energy security and the pressures of managing it." (Reporting and editing by William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez and Khanh Vu)
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Lucid misses its first-quarter vehicle deliveries estimates due to supplier disruptions
Lucid 'Group missed Friday its expectations for the first quarter vehicle deliveries, hurt by an unauthorized supplier and a temporary sales halt. The company was unable to meet the demand for its luxury electric SUV Lucid Gravity during the third quarter because of a quality issue with the second-row seat. The company reported that it delivered 3,093 vehicles in the March 31st quarter. Visible Alpha analysts had predicted Lucid would produce 5,967 cars and deliver 5,237. Lucid's Chief Executive Marc Winterhoff said that deliveries were especially affected in February when they paused for a few minutes to "reverse the changes and inspect already produced vehicles." Lucid recalled 4,476 'Gravity SUVs' built between December 2024 and February 2020 earlier this week due to seatbelt welds not meeting safety standards. The shortfall highlights the gap between Lucid's ability to produce cars and its production capacity, which has plagued Lucid as well as other EV startups when demand falls. Winterhoff acknowledged that supply challenges are still a concern. The company's forecast to?produce 25,000?to 27,000? vehicles this year was conservative, suggesting a growth of up to 50%. It maintained this forecast on Friday. By 2025, the production will have nearly doubled. Lucid has also been battling a chip shortage, uncertain supplies and an October fire at an aluminum supplier.
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NYT: Musk wants SpaceX IPO banks buying Grok AI subscriptions
The New York Times reported that Elon Musk was requiring banks and advisers who are working on 'SpaceX's IPO to buy subscriptions to Grok, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot. The report stated that some banks had agreed to spend up to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars per year on the chatbot, and they have already begun integrating it with their IT systems. This week, it was reported that Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup are the active bookrunners or 'lead banks' managing a deal. Musk and SpaceX have not responded to requests for comment. JPMorgan Chase declined to comment. Goldman Sachs also declined. Citigroup, Bank of America and Citigroup did not respond. Morgan Stanley did not respond immediately to our queries. Bloomberg News reported a day before that the Starbase rocket maker in Texas had boosted its target valuation for an initial public offering above $2 trillion. This could be the largest stock market listing ever. The company hopes to raise $75 billion, which is a record amount. This would be a far cry from previous mega-IPOs like 'Saudi Aramco 2019 or Alibaba 2014'. (Reporting and editing by Bill Berkrot, Mark Porter, and Savyata Mihsra from Bengaluru)
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Afghanistan earthquake 5.9 causes eight deaths
The National Disaster Management Authority reported that eight people died and one child was injured when a house in Kabul collapsed following the earthquake in Afghanistan. The German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, reported that an earthquake measuring?5.9 magnitude struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush on Friday. GFZ said that the quake was at a depth 177 km (110 mi). Witnesses reported feeling strong tremors in the Indian capital New Delhi and Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. Afghanistan is surrounded by rugged mountains and therefore prone to natural disasters. The most deadly are its earthquakes, which kill?about 560 people a year on average. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the country in November killed at least 27 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. Mohammad Yunus 'Yawar, reporting from Kabul; Akanksha 'Kushi, writing in Bengaluru; Kanjyik 'Ghosh, in Barcelona; Kevin Liffey and Emelia Sithole Matarise editing.
ROI-Iran war exposes 60-40 portfolio frailty: McGeever
Investors are uncomfortable with the Middle East conflict and the flaring geopolitical risks around the world. How can they hedge these risks when the traditional equity-bond portfolio no longer works?
Investors are under pressure to find a solution, and the answer may not be obvious. However, the recent volatility in the world markets following the U.S./Israeli attack on Iran at the weekend indicates that this pressure will only intensify.
On Monday, implied volatility in U.S. Treasuries rose to its highest level since April as bonds fell across the curve. On Tuesday, implied volatility in the U.S. equity markets rose to its highest level since October as global stocks tumbled.
Investors have historically used Treasuries to protect themselves against economic, geopolitical and financial risks. They also use gold, which is considered the safest, most liquid asset.
It was expected that bonds would appreciate during periods of low risk, thus reducing the volatility of equities. This led to a widespread adoption of traditional portfolio allocations: 60% stocks and 40% bonds.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, America's rising fiscal deficit, public debt and inflation have slowly but steadily eroded the status of Treasuries as a natural hedge against equity risks.
The safety mechanisms built into the 60/40 Portfolio have been eroded as a result.
The authors of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) blog published a report last month that noted how bonds and stocks often move together, particularly during market declines.
Investors from all backgrounds, including conservative institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies, are therefore exposed to greater volatility and larger losses. This, of course also increases the financial stability risk for policymakers.
If diversification fails, it can lead to a cascade of financial instability. "Investors and policymakers need to rethink their risk management in a new world where traditional hedges are no longer effective," they stated.
DIFFERENTIATION IN CORRELATION
What are the best strategies for diversification and hedging?
Blog post discussed private assets as potential portfolio buffers against panic, given that they often have lower volatility than publicly traded 'assets. Recent events in the private credit market show that private markets are not without their own risks.
Post also suggested commodities be taken into consideration. Gold and precious metals have disappointed those who believe that hard assets are the best way to hedge political risk. Bullion, the traditional "safe-haven asset" and hedge against inflation that is most widely accepted, only rose 1% on Sunday and fell 2% on Tuesday.
Platinum and silver prices have fallen by 10% since Monday's opening of trading. The precious metals market is driven by short-term, speculative flows as well as economic fundamentals.
Other commodities, with the notable exceptions of oil and natural gas, are also being sold, such as corn, wheat, and copper. These are certainly short-term movements, but if these don't reverse one wonders what the options are for investors to hedge and diversify.
Not Dead Yet
Before the Iran strike, Treasuries seemed to be regaining a sense of diversification. According to Truist Advisory Services, the daily correlation between stocks & bonds became negative in the first two month of the year and approached the average levels seen during the pre-pandemic decade.
Was it a temporary anomaly? Keith Lerner is the chief investment officer at Truist.
Lerner says that while the current rise in oil prices might make Treasuries look less attractive due to the possibility of inflation and tighter monetary policies, a prolonged period of high energy costs will become a recession threat. In this case, bonds become attractive once again.
Lerner stated that "our view on high-quality bonds?should still generally act as a good portfolio diverifier" has not changed.
Risk-management models and diversification strategies are often thrown out the window when political factors drive market sentiment and prices rather than economic fundamentals. Investors who are experts in understanding the economy and markets, do not always have the best ability to predict how long wars last or when they will end.
Bob Elliott, Unlimited's CEO and CIO, said: "Let this conflict be a lesson to you, whether it is short or long. It will teach you how to diversify your portfolio for a wider range outcomes."
Investors face a difficult challenge.
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(source: Reuters)