Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) on Friday emphasized the urgent need to limit the economic repercussions of an ongoing Middle East conflict, highlighting a commitment to pursuing enduring peace.

UOB economist Ho Woei Chen assesses China’s stronger 1Q26 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data and its implications for policy. Despite real GDP rising 5.0% year-on-year, the team keeps its 2026 growth forecast at 4.7% due to external headwinds and weak domestic demand.

New Zealand Electronic Card Retail Sales (YoY): 2.7% (March) vs 1.5%

New Zealand Electronic Card Retail Sales (MoM) dipped from previous 1.4% to 0.7% in March

OCBC’s strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong observe USD/MYR nearing key support as markets price optimism over US–Iran negotiations and a softer US Dollar (USD).

Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur says China’s 5.0% growth, despite weak investment and retail sales, underscores reliance on external demand, keeping authorities wary of strong CNY appreciation.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with multiple world leaders this week, detailing the US' agenda of securing trade deals and policies aimed largely at reversing damage done through the first year of the Trump administration, specifically on earth minerals and general trade.

Standard Chartered economists Jonathan Koh and Edward Lee now expect Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep its policy rate at 4.25% in April, delaying a previously anticipated 25 bps hike to June.

TD Securities strategists highlight that China’s Q1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 5.0% year-on-year, at the top of the official target range, driven by strong exports and early bond quota usage.

BNY's Geoff Yu highlights that South Korea, Taiwan and Japan have become key surplus providers to the U.S. as China’s exports to America declined.

Danske Bank’s Danske Research Team observes that Chinese GDP and industrial production surprised to the upside, while retail sales remained weak and unemployment ticked higher.

Commerzbank’s Michael Pfister notes that G10 and Gelişen Piyasalar (EM) carry trades have delivered strong paper gains, helped by Iran-related market moves and high-yield currencies like the Brazilian Real and Mexican Peso.

Speaking to reporters outside of the White House on Thursday, US President Donald Trump made a series of statements surrounding the ongoing confrontation with Iran.

Standard Chartered Bank economists Madhur Jha and Ethan Lester assess how the Middle East conflict could affect global remittances.

Deutsche Bank economists Marc Schattenberg and colleagues discuss how higher Oil and gas prices linked to the Middle East conflict are weighing on the German economy.

United States 4-Week Bill Auction climbed from previous 3.56% to 3.595%

Stephen Miran, a member of the Federal Reserve (Fed), spoke in a moderated discussion about the United States (US) monetary policy at the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee Global Macro Sessions in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

ING economist James Smith argues that recent UK GDP strength is likely overstated and expects UK growth to slow as inflation moves towards 4% and real wages fall. He highlights rising energy prices and weaker corporate pricing power as headwinds.

Colombia Retail Sales (YoY) registered at 10.9% above expectations (9.8%) in February

DBS Group Research economist Radhika Rao assesses early post-conflict data for India, highlighting stronger wholesale inflation and modestly higher CPI. She notes that the Wholesale Price Index is more sensitive to commodity and imported costs and is likely to rise further.

John Williams, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) of New York, spoke in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday and said the Fed’s current interest-rate setting is well calibrated for an economy facing additional risks from the conflict in the Middle East.

BNP Paribas notes Latin American central banks are responding differently to renewed inflation risks. The easing cycle seems over in Chile and Peru, while Mexico’s central bank may deliver one last cut if Middle East tensions ease.

United States EIA Natural Gas Storage Change came in at 59B, above forecasts (55B) in April 10

Standard Chartered economists Carol Liao, Shuang Ding and Hunter Chan note that China’s Q1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5.0% year-on-year, above the 4.8% consensus, supported by strong exports and a rebound in fixed asset investment.

United Kingdom NIESR GDP Estimate (3M) climbed from previous 0.3% to 0.6% in March

United States Industrial Production (MoM) below forecasts (0.1%) in March: Actual (-0.5%)

United States Capacity Utilization registered at 75.7%, below expectations (76.3%) in March

United States Industrial Production (MoM) registered at 0.2% above expectations (0.1%) in March

Societe Generale analysts highlight a strong rebound in global risk appetite, benefiting the South African Rand. USD/ZAR is seen as vulnerable after failing to hold above its 200-day moving average at 17.00, with scope to grind toward 16.00.

Russia Central Bank Reserves $ up to $774.8B from previous $767.5B