Business News Today
Global Supply Chain Strains Ease
Global supply chain pressures eased significantly in January 2026, as disruptions in the Red Sea region continued to decline. Reduced Houthi attacks on shipping, combined with increased naval patrols and alternative routing, led to falling freight container rates that have come down by over 20% in recent weeks. Major carriers reported smoother operations, with fewer delays at key ports. Economists revised 2026 inflation forecasts downward price momentum, expecting lower goods prices to filter through to consumers. The improvement supports central banks’ efforts to manage interest rates and bolsters corporate earnings outlooks, particularly for retail and manufacturing sectors. While some bottlenecks remain in semiconductors and raw materials, the overall trend signals a return toward pre-pandemic efficiency levels.
Iran Shuts down Internet While Protests Grow
Internet traffic monitor NetBlocks, internet infrastructure company Cloudflare, and internet connectivity tracking site IODA, all registered sudden drops in connectivity across Iran at the same time yesterday. The protests have been ongoing for weeks since late December due to the severe currency devaluation driven by the authoritarian islamic regime that has had a major impact on the cost of living in Iran. Hundreds of thousands of protestors have taken to the streets daily and protests have erupted across all 31 Iranian provinces, with the authorities using violent force on the demonstrators. Many media groups have barely covered the protests and details have mainly been emerging on social media platforms.
The Iranian government, which maintains a tight control over the country’s internet access, is behind the internet blackout, according to Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity researcher. Iranian navy vessels that were due to take part in a South African hosted navy exercise in Cape town this weekend have also not made an appearance yet, strengthening reports that there are major disruptions occurring in Iran.
EU Approves Tougher AI Regulations
The European Union formally approved comprehensive new AI regulations today, marking the world’s strictest framework for artificial intelligence. The rules specifically target “frontier models”—large-scale, high-capability systems like those powering advanced generative AI. Key provisions include mandatory risk assessments, transparency requirements for training data, and strict oversight for applications in high-risk areas such as hiring, law enforcement, and healthcare. Penalties for non-compliance could reach billions of euros. U.S. tech giants, including OpenAI, Google, and Meta, immediately warned that the measures could widen innovation gaps, slow development, and disadvantage European competitiveness globally. Critics argue the rules prioritise safety over speed, while supporters say they set a necessary global standard for ethical AI deployment.
Breaking News Shorts:
- China’s producer prices fell 1.9% year-on-year in December 2025, easing from a 2.2% decline in November and extending the contraction to a 39th consecutive month. The latest reading was slightly above market expectations of a 2.0% drop, marking the mildest decline since August 2024,
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.8% to around 51,550 while the Topix Index gained 0.4% to 3,498 today with Japanese shares snapping a two-session decline amid easing concerns about the dispute with China. Sentiment improved after China said its export controls on dual-use items to Japan would not affect civilian use, adding that companies engaged in normal civilian trade had no cause for concern.
- The South African Rand (ZAR) has lost some momentum and has dropped to over the R16.50 mark to the US dollar today, after hitting a four-year low at around R16.33. The currency had gained over 13% to the dollar in 2025 and major financial firms such as Goldman Sachs believe that further gains are possible this year.
- Platinum futures have stabilised above $2,220 per ounce, after retreating further from near record highs as investors engaged in profit taking amid a broader selloff across the metals markets. Earlier this week, platinum and other precious metals had rallied sharply on heightened safe-haven demand
- Copper futures have stabilised around $5.8 per ounce this morning, following a sharp two-day selloff, as investors reassessed expectations around tightening supply and robust global demand. Earlier in the week, prices surged to record highs amid concerns that the Trump administration could impose new tariffs on refined metals, potentially diverting shipments into the US and constraining supply elsewhere.
Markets by Numbers
Currency markets indicate the US dollar strengthening today, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.16521 while the Pound is trading at 1.34317 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 157.33 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) has weakened further and currently trading at around R16.53 to the dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold futures are currently down -0.2% this morning, and currently selling at around $4469.00 per ounce.
- Copper prices are trending 0.7% higher today, with prices currently around $5.7963 per pound
- Silver futures are up by around 0.4% today, and trading around $76.900 per ounce.
- Platinum futures have stabilised this morning, and currently trading at $2242.10, While Palladium prices are rebounding and up by around 1% this morning, and currently trading around $1819.00 per ounce.
- Brent crude oil prices are trending 0,7% higher today, and currently at $62.46 with WTI trading at $58.21
- Cocoa futures are trending over 1% higher today, and currently trading around $5984.00 per ton.
- Coffee futures are currently -0.75% lower today, and trading at around $3.7265 per pound
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin prices are trending -0.16% lower this morning, and trading at around $90916 per coin currently
- Ether prices are trending 0.26% higher today, and are currently trading around $3112.82
- $Trumpcoin are trending lower today, and currently trading around $5.375
(All prices quoted at approximately 07H45 Central African Time)
Africa News Briefs:
- Zambia has withdrawn its request for a one-year extension of its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) with the International Monetary Fund, the IMF said on yesterday. No reason has been given for the decision.The ECF was arranged in 2022 to help Zambia stabilise its finances after defaulting on its international debt two years earlier.
- During a meeting in Cairo yesterday, Egypt and the European Union said that efforts were being made to implement the second phase of the US brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. The second phase requires the establishment of a Board of Peace that will oversee the peace process. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Board of Peace should commence work without delay.
