Business
Sri Lanka jolts markets with outsized 100-bp rate hike to counter Gulf crisis
Economic growth in the South Asian nation, only just recovering from a devastating 2022 financial crisis that left businesses and households deeply scarred, is expected to take a hit from the turmoil in the Middle East.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) raised the overnight policy rate to 8.75% from 7.75%, blaming higher inflation and a depreciating rupee due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Seven out of a dozen economists and analysts polled by Reuters had forecast only a 25 basis-point or slightly higher change to the rate, citing the deepening impact on foreign reserves from the conflict.
Sri Lanka, fully reliant on imported fuel, has been battered by the Iran war-driven energy shock that has forced a 40% fuel price hike, rationing, and even public holidays on Wednesdays.
“Similar to several regional peer currencies, the Sri Lanka rupee experienced notable depreciation pressures in recent weeks, although conditions have since eased to some extent,” the central bank said in a statement, referring to the currency’s 8.7% tumble since early March.
Annual inflation has jumped from 2.2% in March to 5.4% last month, although that is well below the 70% peak during the crisis. Headline inflation is likely to remain above the target of 5% in the period ahead, before easing and stabilising around it, the CBSL said in its statement.
Sri Lanka’s stock market opened 0.5% lower following the policy announcement, while the currency held broadly steady at 327 rupees per dollar.
BIGGEST HIKE SINCE MARCH 2023, GROWTH SET TO SLOW
The central bank last changed rates in May 2025 when it reduced them by 25 basis points to boost growth. Tuesday’s 100-basis-point hike was the biggest increase since a similar hike during the depths of the financial crisis in March 2023.
“This 100bps rate hike suggests the CBSL is shifting gears from supporting growth to defending price stability,” said Udeeshan Jonas, strategy head at Colombo-based equity research firm CAL. He has cut his 2026 growth forecast to 3.0% from 4.2% following the move.
The central bank and finance ministry had projected growth of between 4% and 5% in January.
“The central bank clearly expects the supply-side pressures from the Iran conflict – specifically oil price volatility and subsequent pressure on the rupee – to have a prolonged, sticky impact on domestic inflation rather than being a transitory blip,” Jonas added.
Emerging economies are bearing the brunt of the Iran war as soaring energy prices, supply disruptions, and capital outflows threaten to trigger stagflation. India, which depends heavily on overseas crude imports, is grappling with a sharp decline in the rupee, forcing the central bank to step in to defend the currency.
Sri Lanka’s reserves decreased 3.8% to $6.7 billion in April after it spent $1.5 billion on fuel imports in the first four months of the year, with the fuel bill surging 77% in March alone.
Backed by a $2.9 billion programme from the International Monetary Fund, the island is clawing its way out of the 2022 upheaval caused by a severe shortfall of dollars.
The IMF Executive Board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether Sri Lanka will receive $700 million under its programme, which would help to top up its reserves.
Business
Thai Gold Prices Plunge After Record 38 Daily Revisions
Gold prices in Thailand experienced extreme volatility on June 10, 2026, with 38 revisions. The day concluded with a sharp THB2,450 drop, prompting investor and consumer caution.
Key Points
- Gold prices on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, experienced significant intraday volatility.
- The Gold Traders Association recorded 38 price adjustments before the market’s final close.
- Prices dropped sharply by THB2,450 from the previous day, leading to investor and consumer scrutiny.
Volatile Trading Day Culminates in Sharp Decline
Gold prices on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, experienced extreme volatility, marked by an unprecedented 38 successive price revisions announced by the Gold Traders Association. This dynamic trading environment persisted throughout the day, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty for market participants. The day’s trading concluded with a significant downward correction at the 5:11 PM market close, indicating a pronounced shift in market sentiment during the latter part of the trading session.
Substantial Price Drop Impacts Market
The sharp decline observed at the close of trading represented a considerable loss for gold holders, with the price falling by a total of THB2,450 compared to the preceding day’s closing value. This substantial price movement prompted widespread attention from both investors, who are closely assessing the implications for their portfolios, and consumers, who are monitoring the affordability of gold. The significant drop underscores the sensitivity of gold prices to various market forces and investor behavior.
Investor and Consumer Vigilance
Following the day’s pronounced price fluctuations and the significant drop, a heightened sense of vigilance is evident among both investors and consumers. The latest market data, specifically the 38th announcement of gold buying and selling prices, serves as a critical reference point for understanding the immediate impact of the day’s trading. This close monitoring is crucial for making informed decisions in the wake of such a volatile trading period and anticipating future price movements.
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Pimco says ‘credit loss cycle’ has begun, favours quality bonds
Pimco, which manages $2.3 trillion in assets, said the AI buildout could widen the range of economic outcomes over the next five years while leaving weaker and more heavily leveraged borrowers more exposed. High-grade credit spreads — the extra yield investors demand over US Treasuries to hold highly rated corporate debt — remain near their lowest levels in three decades. Demand for riskier debt has also held up despite a recent global bond selloff, as higher yields draw buyers. Pimco said that backdrop clashes with “elevated secular uncertainty,” and “we interpret this as complacency rather than strength.”
The firm also pointed to “increased instances of maturity extensions and payment-in-kind structures that allow borrowers to repay debt with more debt.”
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Gold rises from 6-mth low amid heightened Iran tensions, Fed rate concerns

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GSA sells Old Post Office Building, former Trump Hotel, on Pennsylvania Ave
Check out whats clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
The General Services Administration (GSA) on Wednesday announced the sale of the Old Post Office Building located at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
The building was previously the Trump International Hotel from 2016 to 2022 until the Trump family firm sold the leasing rights for $375 million. The hotel reopened later in 2022 as the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C., under the management of Hilton.
GSA said that its sale of the building included terms that “permanently secured public access to the iconic clock tower while establishing strong protections for the building’s architectural heritage through a binding preservation covenant.”
The deal also includes a dedicated fine arts covenant that will retain the American public’s ownership of artwork within the facility, including Robert Irwin’s “48 Shadow Planes” and a historic Benjamin Franklin Statue.
TRUMP REVEALS NEW WHCA DINNER VENUE AFTER SHOOTING CHAOS DERAILED GALA

The Old Post Office Building is a recognizable landmark on Pennsylvania Avenue. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images / Getty Images)
GSA’s sale is moving forward under the terms of the existing ground lease, which gives BDT MSD Partners, a merchant bank, the right of first offer.
The Wall Street Journal reported that BDT & MSD Partners acquired the building and land for $80 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The report noted the bank is discussing selling the property for a total of $400 million.
Hilton currently has a long-term agreement in place with the hotel to operate it as the Waldorf Astoria, and that arrangement would continue with a new leaseholder, the Journal reported.
TRUMP ORGANIZATION CLOSES $375M SALE OF DC HOTEL THAT WILL BECOME A WALDORF ASTORIA

The Old Post Office Building contains historic art, including a statue of Benjamin Franklin. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Old Post Office Building was completed in 1899 and originally served as the headquarters for the U.S. Post Office Department and the post office for Washington, D.C.
It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and its Romanesque Revival architecture makes it one of the most recognizable buildings on Pennsylvania Avenue, featuring a prominent clock tower and atrium. The facility is also located near the White House and other Washington, D.C. landmarks.

The Waldof Astoria, the former Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C., as seen on Aug. 18, 2022. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
According to GSA’s announcement, before the property was redeveloped into a hotel, taxpayers were absorbing about $6 million a year in losses on the building.
Since then, there has been over $250 million in private sector capital invested in the property and taxpayer revenues in the last decade, including the current sale, are expected to exceed $110 million.
GSA has listed dozens of other federally-owned properties for sale since early last year as the Trump administration looks to reduce federal spending on underutilized office space and real estate.
Business
Aegon Ltd. (AEG) Shareholder/Analyst Call Transcript
David Herzog
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is David Herzog, and I am the Chair of the Board of Directors of Aegon Limited. On behalf of Aegon, I welcome you to Aegon’s 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. I hereby open the meeting. I’m pleased to welcome our shareholders participating in this meeting today.
Let me introduce the people present with me here at the table. Mark Ellman, Chair of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee; Lard Friese, Executive Director and CEO; Duncan Russell, our Chief Financial Officer; and Bieke Debruyne, Company Secretary. The other members of the Board of Directors as well as Director nominee, Ms. Leni Boeren are present here as well.
Also present here today, Onno Van Klinken, our General Counsel; Yves Cormier, Head of Investor Relations; and [Sonya Natia], the principal representative of the company. I hereby appoint Bieke as Secretary of this general meeting. She will keep minutes of today’s meeting. Before we continue, I would like to make a few remarks. Shareholders who have been registered through the e-voting portal prior to the start of the meeting and who are participating in a virtual manner have been directed automatically to the Lumi environment, in which they can vote and ask questions. To accommodate live voting and keeping in mind a short delay in the live stream, the voting is now open and will remain open until the last voting item on the agenda.
Voting results will be shown at the end of the meeting. To ensure a constructive dialogue with all
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