Rising

• Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea are seeing accelerated hotel performance driven by record growth in international visitor arrivals. • Japan recorded 21.08 million arrivals during the first half of 2026, with June seeing record-breaking results from travelers from India, the United States, Korea, and Taiwan. • This surge in tourism is increasing hotel demand and raising RevPAR, which is the revenue generated per available room.

• Rising energy prices and global borrowing costs linked to the war in the Middle East are pushing markets toward a period of stagflation on September 18. • This economic condition is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of high inflation and slow growth. • These trends threaten to damage global economies by increasing the cost of living and reducing overall financial stability.

Increase from 1% to 1.25% follows US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank tightening monetary policyBusiness live – latest updatesJapan’s central bank has increased interest rates to a fresh 31-year high as it attempts to combat high global inflation linked to the war in Iran.The Bank of Japan voted to raise its target interest rate from 1% to 1.25%, the highest level since 1995. Continue reading...

• Rising oil prices, interest rates, and bond yields are creating a stagflation environment, which is a period of slow economic growth combined with high inflation. • Higher interest rates are expected to push squeezed consumers to save more and spend less. • This shift in consumer behavior deprives domestic economies of necessary spending, potentially slowing overall market growth.

Policymakers keep steady course as jobs market comes under strain and Iran war pushes up energy costsBusiness live – latest updatesThe Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold despite growing concern over inflation as the Iran war pushes households into a fresh cost of living crisis.Against a volatile backdrop in global markets as the fighting in the Middle East intensifies, the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) voted to keep its key base rate at 3.75%. Continue reading...

• The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to address rising violence in Yemen and threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shipping route. • UN agencies reported that nearly 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting intensified earlier this month, with thousands fleeing to Djibouti. • Continued insecurity threatens commercial shipping and humanitarian aid for nearly half of Yemen's 41 million people who currently need assistance.

• Stock futures declined as oil prices and U.S. 10-year Treasury yields continued to rise. • Asian stocks fell and UniCredit shares dropped as much as 2.9% after RBC Capital Markets issued a sector perform rating. • Higher borrowing costs and energy prices are creating headwinds for financial markets and dragging down the Nasdaq and Russell indices.