United States Building Permits Final

United States Building Permits MoM Final

Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of PKR 1,139.2 billion in April 2026, the largest on record, equivalent to USD 4.07 billion. This compares with a gap of PKR 795.2 billion in the previous month and PKR 1,101.5 billion a year earlier. On a year-on-year basis, imports rose 7% to a record PKR 1,830.9 billion, driven in part by higher global oil prices linked to the conflict with Iran, underscoring Pakistan’s heavy reliance on imported energy. Meanwhile, exports increased 13.4% to PKR 691.6 billion. Over the July 2025–April 2026 period, the country’s trade deficit widened sharply by 21.4% to PKR 9,000 billion (USD 31.9 billion). During this period, exports fell 5.5% to PKR 7,081 billion, while imports climbed 7.9% to PKR 16,082 billion.

Pakistan Posts Record Trade Gap

The South African rand traded around 16.8 per USD, hovering near the lowest since early April, as the dollar remained supported by safe-haven demand on renewed hostilities in the Middle East that tested the fragile US-Iran ceasefire. The US and Iran launched fresh attacks in the Gulf as they sought control of the Strait of Hormuz through competing maritime blockades, following President Trump’s move to restore shipping through the strait and assist stranded vessels. In South Africa, the economic landscape remains challenging, with inflationary pressures and sluggish growth shaping the SARB’s monetary policy. As a net importer of petroleum products, the country is heavily exposed to fluctuations in global energy prices. The government announced it will implement sharp increases in the pump prices of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products from May 6, as global oil market disruptions continue to ripple through domestic energy costs.

South Africa Rand Hovers Around 1-Month Low

Slovenia recorded a trade deficit of EUR 1,104.6 million in March 2026 from a surplus of EUR 810.17 million in the same month last year. Exports declines 15.6% to EUR 6,505.5 million, mainly due to a decrease in processing of products, which had made a significant contribution in the previous year. Meanwhile, imports rose by 10.3% to EUR 7,610.1 million. Trade with EU Member States strengthened, with exports increasing by 6.9% and imports by 3.1%. On the other hand, exports with EU non-member countries declined by 28.4%, while imports climbed by 16.1%. For the first quarter of 2026, the trade deficit widened to EUR 2.9 billion, as exports declined sharply by 26.8% and imports edged up by 1.6%.

Slovenia Trade Deficit Widens

The Swiss franc traded around 0.78 per USD, near record highs, as investors evaluated the Swiss National Bank’s policy outlook following the latest inflation data. Ongoing safe-haven demand also lent support. Swiss inflation rose to 0.6% in April, its highest level in 16 months, driven by rising energy costs linked to the war in the Middle East. The increase marked a second consecutive acceleration and pushed the headline inflation rate above the 0.5% average projected by the SNB for this year and 2027 at its last policy meeting in March. Although the central bank expects the spike in costs to be temporary, with minimal change to medium-term price pressures, this offers breathing space for policymakers, who were previously confronting subdued inflation before the Iran war, driven by the strength of the franc. SNB Chairman Martin Schlegel said last month that higher energy prices should lift inflation further in coming quarters, while growth is likely to remain subdued in the near term.

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Pakistan Posts Record Trade Gap

South Africa Rand Hovers Around 1-Month Low

Slovenia Trade Deficit Widens

Swiss Franc Near Record Highs

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United States Building Permits Final

United States Building Permits MoM Final

United States Building Permits MoM Final

United States Building Permits Final