The Middle East ceasefire and Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to fuel global concerns, impacting gas prices and driving US oil exports to record highs, while Israel and Lebanon engage in talks amid a fragile truce and Europe braces for potential stagflation.

• When Gas Prices Rise, They’re Hard to Bring Down. Here’s Why. — Wall Street Journal -
• See Which Ships Are Slipping Through the Strait of Hormuz — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Don’t Renew a Sanctions Break for Russia — Wall Street Journal -

• Israel Will Start Direct Talks With Lebanon — Wall Street Journal -
• Middle East war day 41 as it happened: S&P 500 posts longest winning streak since October on ceasefire optimism — Financial Times -
• Netanyahu authorises Israeli talks with Lebanon after Trump intervention — Financial Times -
• Lebanon’s 10 minutes from hell — Financial Times -
• Is the Strait of Hormuz Reopening? What to Know Under Iran-Cease Fire. — The New York Times Business -
• Trump officials deny threatening Vatican over Pope Leo’s criticisms — Financial Times -
• February PCE inflation showed inflation overshoot remained — Financial Times -
• The Middle East ceasefire deal is fraying. What’s next for Trump? — Financial Times -
• American Is the Latest Airline to Raise Baggage Fees — Wall Street Journal -
• Fed’s Inflation Woes Preceded the War With Iran — The New York Times Business -
• UK exposes covert Russian submarine operation — Financial Times -
• How the Strait of Hormuz Stifled a Market Rally — The New York Times Business -
• EU to relax methane rules to secure energy supplies — Financial Times -
• BA to reduce flights to Middle East when services resume in July — Financial Times -
• OECD urges governments to rapidly unwind costly fuel duty cuts — Financial Times -
• The ceasefire bounce — Financial Times -
• Europe nervously eyes fragile Iran ceasefire as energy crisis rumbles on — Financial Times -
• Tariffs are Trump’s perpetual leverage machine — Financial Times -
• Shipping stalls as Tehran dictates terms in Strait of Hormuz — Financial Times -
• UK becomes top destination for US jet fuel — Financial Times -
• US oil exports to hit record as Iran war triggers race for supplies — Financial Times -
• Iran war has exposed the weakness of the dollar — Financial Times -
• EU warns it will still face ‘stagflationary shock’ — Financial Times -
• The case for trade, remade — Financial Times -
• Reform UK donor runs company linked to sanctioned Iranian conglomerate — Financial Times -
• Oh! What a weird war for investors — Financial Times -
• The oil market navigates a shaky ceasefire — Financial Times -
• How long will the Iran energy shock last? With Chris Giles — Financial Times -
• Delta Expects Strong Profit Despite Higher Fuel Costs — The New York Times Business -
• Oil Prices Plunge and Stocks Surge After Cease-Fire Deal — The New York Times Business -
• Vance to lead US talks with Iran as Israeli strikes imperil ceasefire — Financial Times -

China is actively luring AI talent from Silicon Valley as Asian start-ups use AI to reshape industries, while xAI sues Colorado over AI anti-discrimination laws and OpenAI halts a UK data center project due to high energy costs, impacting BDO partner roles and Gen Z's sentiment towards AI.

• China lures home its top AI talent from Silicon Valley — Financial Times -
• Asian start-ups evolve to reshape industries with AI — Financial Times -
• xAI sues Colorado over first state AI anti-discrimination law — Financial Times -

• Half of Gen Z Uses AI, but Their Feelings Are Souring, Study Shows — The New York Times Business -
• The chips chokehold that could end the AI investment boom — Financial Times -
• OpenAI halts Stargate UK data centre project — Financial Times -
• Why Tubi Is Betting on AI to Win Over Gen Z Viewers — Wall Street Journal -
• BDO axes 31 partner roles as AI pressure grows and profits fall — Financial Times -

The Asia-Pacific region showcases high-growth companies and faces economic shifts, including India's wine industry adapting to an EU trade deal, China's champions facing domestic threats, and Singapore listings remaining scarce, while Chinese and Indian airports chase hub status and BlackRock's India venture falls short.

• FT High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific — Financial Times -
• EU trade deal set to change India’s wine industry — Financial Times -
• The biggest threat to China’s global champions is not Trump — Financial Times -

• Singapore listings remain scarce despite strong equities performance — Financial Times -
• Chinese and Indian airports chase hub status amid Iran disruption — Financial Times -
• Uniqlo Owner Raises Guidance Despite Middle East Disruption — Wall Street Journal -
• China’s Auto Sales Extend Decline in March — Wall Street Journal -
• CLSA curtails flagship Tokyo forum because of its Chinese parent — Financial Times -
• Communists say this Indian state is a success. Will voters agree? — Financial Times -
• BlackRock’s ambitious India shake-up falls short — Financial Times -

Significant **M&A activity includes Sazerac eyeing Brown-Forman and Unilever acquiring Grüns, while 7-Eleven delays its North American IPO, Disney plans layoffs, and investors withdraw $20bn from private credit funds, with CarMax adding board members** after activist talks.

• CarMax Will Add Two Board Members After Talks With Activist Investor Starboard — Wall Street Journal -
• Sazerac Eyes Deal With Jack Daniel’s Maker Brown-Forman — Wall Street Journal -
• Bill Ackman tries to make music and money mix with €55bn Universal bid — Financial Times -

• European insurance regulators push for €10bn-plus disaster fund — Financial Times -
• Unilever acquires vitamin gummies brand Grüns in wellness push — Financial Times -
• BlackBerry Looks Beyond Automotive to Power Growth Ambitions — Wall Street Journal -
• Uzbekistan prepares to list state assets in London — Financial Times -
• 7-Eleven Owner Projects Lower Annual Profit, Delays North American Unit IPO — Wall Street Journal -
• Pimco to DC: please stop talking about a Fannie-Freddie IPO — Financial Times -
• Ares Management to Buy Whitestone REIT in $1.7 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• 7-Eleven owner delays US listing in blow to turnaround plan — Financial Times -
• Austria’s Raiffeisen Offers to Buy Smaller Peer Addiko for $524 Million — Wall Street Journal -
• The Dealmaking Gamble Threatening Estée Lauder’s Turnaround — Wall Street Journal -
• Thrift App Vinted Posts Revenue Surge on Expansion Efforts — Wall Street Journal -
• Investors sought to pull $20bn from private credit funds in first quarter — Financial Times -
• Ackman in talks to launch fund to bet on investor complacency — Financial Times -
• Is the BoJ ready to take Japan back to reality? — Financial Times -
• Nike’s comeback may not come all the way back — Financial Times -
• Can a Longtime Car Executive Reinvigorate a Luxury Fashion Conglomerate? — Wall Street Journal -
• Disney Planning Layoffs Under New CEO Josh D’Amaro — Wall Street Journal -

Argentina's Milei eases glacier protections to attract copper investments, New England considers the nuclear option for energy, and debates continue over data center water usage and the financial accountability of Big Oil for climate change, with an order for hydrofoiling electric ferries highlighting green transport efforts.

• Opinion | New England Considers the Nuclear Option — Wall Street Journal -
• Argentina’s Milei Eases Glacier Protections to Unlock Copper Investments — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | New Data Centers Won’t Be Draining Us Dry — Wall Street Journal -

• Why Green Energy Makes More Sense With Each Price Shock — Wall Street Journal -
• More BP Investors Demand Proof That Fossil-Fuel Pivot Will Benefit Shareholders — Wall Street Journal -
• The climate showdown between Big Oil and US states — Financial Times -
• Milei win as Argentina reviews glacier law to boost mining — Financial Times -
• Candela Receives Order For 20 Hydrofoiling Electric Ferries — Wall Street Journal -

Greece plans to block social media for children under 15, the White House and crypto industry fight over stablecoin income, and Forever Stamp prices are set to rise, reflecting broader discussions on digital ID schemes, labor market dynamics for the college-educated, and the impact of social causes on brand sales like Dr. Bronner's.

• From bingo to Melbourne flower show: Humanitix uses ticket fees as ‘engine for good’ — Financial Times -
• The Nutella Seen All Over the World—and 252,756 Miles Away — Wall Street Journal -
• Greece Plans to Block Social Media for Children Under 15 — The New York Times Business -

• Forever Stamp Prices to Rise 5% This Summer — Wall Street Journal -
• White House and Crypto Industry Fight Bank Lobby Over Stablecoin Income — The New York Times Business -
• The Secret to Getting More Women to Play Golf — Wall Street Journal -
• Submit your questions to Alphaville: will Trump blow up the financial dominance of the US? — Financial Times -
• Elon Musk’s grip on the future of US space exploration — Financial Times -
• London mayor takes aim at social media companies over disinformation — Financial Times -
• Dr. Bronner’s Is Still Standing on a Soapbox—and Sales Are Booming — Wall Street Journal -
• David B. Cornstein, Envoy Who Built U.S. Ties to Orban, Dies at 87 — The New York Times Business -
• Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class — the overqualified fight back — Financial Times -
• ‘Euphoria,’ HBO’s Gen Z Wasteland, Is Back After Four Years. Everything Has Changed. — Wall Street Journal -
• America’s Furniture Stores Struggle to Survive a Frozen Housing Market — The New York Times Business -
• Scaled-back digital ID scheme can combat populism, UK minister says — Financial Times -
• Behind a Former Hartbeat CEO’s Bet on BuzzFeed Channels — Wall Street Journal -
• Reopening the minimum wage debate — Financial Times -
• A Must for the Next Food Craze? Be ‘Social Media Gorgeous.’ — The New York Times Business -
• Capping student loan interest rates is a step in the right direction — Financial Times -
• Have Hungarians had enough of Orbán? — Financial Times -
• ‘It’s not at all the palazzo I imagined’: Valeria Napoleone moves to Milan — Financial Times -
• Switzerland’s referendum habit: an early warning to Europe? — Financial Times -

Volkswagen is ending US production of its electric vehicles, signaling a re-evaluation of EV strategies, while Chinese carmakers are expanding rapidly, doubling their market share in the UK, and Mercedes-Benz reports a decline in global car sales, impacted by challenges in China and wider economic headwinds.

• Volkswagen to End E.V. Production at Tennessee Plant — The New York Times Business -
• Volkswagen to End U.S. Production of Its Only American-Made EV — Wall Street Journal -
• Chinese carmakers double share of UK market in March — Financial Times -

• Mercedes-Benz Car Sales Fall on China, Macroeconomic Challenges — Wall Street Journal -