Economy

Demand for Putin's war bonds rises

Hopes that tensions between the US and Russia will ease are driving demand for Russian government bonds, writes Bloomberg. The bonds are important for financing the country's sharply increased war spending, but the country's Treasury Department has had difficulty attracting buyers.

In the past week, however, demand has been at its highest level since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

- The main trigger and driving force behind the increased demand for the bonds were events in geopolitics, Istar Capital manager Iskander Lutsko told the news agency.

Trump pressures Apple: "Get rid of diversity"

US President Donald Trump wants Apple to abolish its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) guidelines, international media reports.

"DEI was a fraud that hurt our country," writes Donald Trump on Truth Social.

The criticism comes after Apple shareholders voted against a proposal this week to eliminate the company's diversity programs and have instead chosen to adjust them. Apple has initially declined to comment on Trump's statement. 

Trump to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China next week

US tariffs of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada will be imposed on Tuesday next week, Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social. An additional tariff of 10 percent will be imposed on China on the same day, March 4.

Trump once again claims that drugs, mainly fentanyl, which is said to have been manufactured in China, are coming to the US via Canada and Mexico and have killed "millions" of Americans. "Until this is stopped or severely limited, the proposed tariffs will go into effect as planned on March 4," the president wrote.

The tariffs on Canada and Mexico were announced almost a month ago but were paused on February 3, CNBC notes.

Chief economist on Trump's tariffs: Economic suicide

US President Donald Trump's uncertain tariff policy will lead to many global investments being put on hold, says Sparebank's chief economist Harald Magnus Andreassen to the newspaper E24.

- This is close to economic suicide, but also causes significant disadvantages for the other party.

He also tells the newspaper that the increased tariffs will result in higher prices for everyone. It was on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump said that Europe will also receive 25 percent tariffs.

Dollar surges on Trump's tariff announcement - krona loses

The dollar surged on Thursday after Donald Trump's new tariff announcement, notes Bloomberg.

The krona weakened by at most 11 öre and one dollar cost 10.74 kronor. Against the Canadian dollar, the US dollar strengthened by around 1 percent and the Mexican peso also lost ground, notes the news agency.

Trump announced this afternoon that the US would impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Tuesday and that China would be hit with an additional 10 percent tariff on the same day.