Economy

The state of the world economy
IMF lowers the forecast for global growth after the war

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is downgrading its forecast for global growth this year to 3.0 percent, while inflation is being revised up to 4.7 percent. In its new report, the IMF states that two forces are working against each other: the war in the Middle East and the AI ​​boom.

"The global economy as a whole has so far weathered the war shock better than feared," writes the IMF.

At the same time, many countries, especially in Asia, are seeing positive effects from being part of the supply chain in AI investments.

The economic effects
The war divides experts: "Trump gives many a lump in the stomach"

Wednesday's stock market crash divides experts that DI has spoken to. Nordea analyst Martin Björsell believes that the declines are about profit-taking and now sees a buying situation on the stock market.

The constant stock market pessimist and independent financial analyst Peter Malmqvist sees several risk factors converging and predicts a protracted conflict. However, how Trump acts will be decisive.

– These aggressive statements are making many people feel sick to their stomachs, it's clearly bad, Malmqvist tells DI. 

Stock market mood
Analyst: A risk premium – but the worries are expected to subside

The escalated Iran conflict that is causing the oil price to soar and the stock markets to fall is worrying experts that DI has spoken to.

– Last night's attacks are undeniably causing an increased risk premium again on the oil market, says Arctic Securities commodity analyst Christian Kopfer.

Just like Kopfer, Nordea's commodity analyst Thina Saltvedt believes that both parties have an economic interest in resolving the conflict in the near future.

Lars Söderfjell, head of equities at the Bank of Åland, believes that the market's reaction feels reasonable and that investors are still pricing in the fact that the worries will subside.

French borrowing costs at highest level since 2009

The interest rate that France must pay on its national debt rose this morning to the highest level since 2009.

In part, interest rates were dragged into a general rise in interest rates due to rising oil prices and increased inflation concerns in the wake of the escalating conflict around the Persian Gulf.

In part, France is being punished extra hard because of the political uncertainty in the country. Yesterday, far-right politician Marine Le Pen announced that she will run in next year's presidential election, despite being sentenced to prison for embezzlement during the day.

The interest rate on 10-year government bonds is 4.57 percent.

Oil market
Oil price rises sharply after Trump's statement on Iran

Oil and gas prices continue to rise after Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire with Iran, as he sees it, is over.

A barrel of Brent oil costs just before 11 am Swedish time just over 78 dollars. The price of fossil gas is also following suit on the commodities exchange in Amsterdam.

The price began to rise sharply late on Tuesday when new battles between the US and Iran over the Persian Gulf began.

The AI ​​race
Apple in multi-billion dollar agreement with Broadcom

The value of the new cooperation agreement between semiconductor company Broadcom and iPhone manufacturer Apple is expected to exceed 30 billion dollars, equivalent to 290 billion kronor. This is reported by Bloomberg.

The agreement is expected to lead to more than 15 billion chips being manufactured in the US and contribute to the creation of hundreds of jobs in the country.

The companies' cooperation agreement, which concerns the development and delivery of specially adapted chips, is to extend until 2031. Broadcom has been a subcontractor to Apple for many years.

The agreement is part of a previously published commitment in which Apple promised to invest 600 billion dollars in the US. Apple CEO Tim Cook presented the agreement together with Donald Trump at the White House last year. 

Source: AI rocket Hynix dual listing oversubscribed

South Korean memory chip maker and stock rocket SK Hynix's new issue of American depositary receipts for $28 billion was heavily oversubscribed, a source told Reuters.

The final price for the share's depositary receipts in the dual listing on Wall Street is expected to be determined on Thursday. The company is then expected to start trading on Nasdaq on Friday.

The strong interest shows that demand for leading AI chip companies remains high, despite technology stocks being pressured by the flare-up of conflict in the Middle East, the news agency writes.

SK Hynix is ​​one of the world's largest manufacturers of memory chips and has previously been listed on the Seoul stock exchange.