Data
Romania’s forex reserves rise €2bn in March to €67bn amid FX bond issues
Romania’s foreign exchange reserves increased to €67bn at the end of March 2026, €2bn up from a month earlier, according to National Bank of Romania data.
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Czech PMI improves to 52.8 in March, best in four years
Domestic as well as international demand improved, but the rising cost input and supply-chain instability in connection with the war in the Middle East cooled the outlook.
War in Iran pushes Poland’s inflation to 3% y/y in March, below expectations
The US-Israeli war on Iran pushed up fuel prices, but the rise was smaller than expected.
Albanian lek hits record high against euro
The Albanian lek strengthened to ALL95.8 to the euro on March 31, the strongest rate on record against the European single currency.
War snuffs out signs of recovery in Turkish manufacturing, shows March PMI
Impacts of conflict disrupted supply chains and pushed up costs for inputs including fuel and oil.
Russian manufacturing PMI slips further into the red to 48.3 as demand weakens
Russia’s manufacturing sector slipped further into the red in March, as weakening demand, falling output and declining business confidence highlighted mounting pressure on industrial activity, according to the latest data from S&P Global.
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade expands by 7% to $11.6bn in Jan-Feb
Trade deficit posted at $4.5bn.
Turkish central bank revives FX swaps with local lenders as war pressures hit reserves
It’s a reminder of the bad, old days, but there’s no crisis as yet.
China and Turkmenistan cannot get their gas export numbers straight
Eurasianet’s China-Central Asia Monitor: March 20-26, 2026.
Planet IPO remains open to real estate developers on Borsa Istanbul despite war stress on markets
Agaoglu Avrasya REIT cleared for lift-off. Consternation among scores of non-property firms awaiting permission to list.
Russians’ trust in Putin falls to lowest level since Ukraine invasion
Trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin has fallen to its lowest level since before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as economic pressures and prolonged war fatigue weigh on public sentiment, according to new survey data reported.
Iran oil revenues surge as exports rise despite regional tensions
Iran’s oil revenues have climbed sharply in March, rising by an estimated $25mn per day from the previous month to reach $139mn per day, as exports increase and price discounts narrow despite tensions in the Middle East, says Goldman Sachs.
Anti-Trump protests outweigh supporter rallies - Statista
Protests in the United States against President Donald Trump or the Trump administration by far outweigh rallies organized by Trump supporters, Statista reports.
All Nato members reach 2% GDP defence spending for the first time
All of Nato’s members have met the alliance’s 2% of GDP defence spending target for the first time, pushing total military expenditure to a record $1.4 trillion, according to data reported by Euractiv on March 20.
Qatar Airways parks 22 jets at Spain's Teruel airport as Gulf War continues
Qatar Airways has parked 22 jets at Spain's Teruel airport in under a week as Gulf airspace closures force carriers to store surplus capacity, echoing fleet grounding patterns last seen during Covid-19.
Fitch keeps Israel credit rating at A with negative outlook as war costs mount
Fitch has kept Israel's credit rating at A with a negative outlook, forecasting a 5.7% deficit in 2026 and warning that debt will keep rising beyond 2028 unless post-war fiscal consolidation is pursued.
Romanian households cut services spending sharply in January
Contraction reflects a growing propensity to save among households amid rising uncertainty, a trend also visible in retail trade.
Akbank launches Turkish banks' spring syndicated loan renewals season at tighter spreads and 136% rollover rate amid Iran conflict
Obtains $700mn syndicated loan in five tranches.
How long would countries' oil stocks last? Statista
As global oil markets reel from the fallout of the Iran conflict, strategic reserves have once again come into focus as a key buffer against supply shocks, Statista reports.
Bulgaria matches Greece on purchasing power for first time
Bulgaria has caught up with Greece in terms of purchasing power for the first time, as both countries reached 68% of the European Union average in 2025, Eurostat data showed.