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Diesel supplies could stay tight well into 2027 as disruptions in the Middle East and Russia keep affecting global fuel markets, raising costs for farmers and other diesel-dependent industries. The IEA says combined diesel export losses from the Middle East and Russia reached about 1.3 million barrels per day in September, while diesel refining margins hit record levels approaching $95 per barrel. The agency warns higher diesel prices add to inflation through transport and production costs and could weigh on economic activity. Farmers are especially exposed because diesel powers tractors and combines and fuels the transport of grain and livestock. Refinery output may recover toward year-end but will not fully replace lost supply, and seasonal maintenance and winter heating demand could add pressure.
- Ivory Coast Cocoa Strike Passes 30 Days
The SYNAP-CI farmers' union, led by Koné Moussa, continues an unlimited cocoa strike that it says began on 16 September, after the government set the 2026-27 main-crop farm-gate price at 1,200 FCFA (US$2.06) a kilogram, about 57% below the previous season's 2,800 FCFA. At a rally in Daloa, producers pledged to keep striking until five demands are met, including replacing the head of the Conseil du Café-Cacao and guaranteeing producers 60% of the CAF export price. The union also seeks a solution for unsold cocoa and a stakeholder seminar. The article notes that no response from the government or the regulator had been reported.
- Global food inflation is expected to intensify as supply shocks pile up
Global food inflation is expected to accelerate in coming months and persist into 2027, as war-related shipping disruptions and El Niño drought squeeze cereal supplies. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136 points in September, its highest since November 2022. According to the World Bank, food prices outpaced headline inflation in 22% of the 150 countries it analysed in the September quarter, up from 14% previously. Wheat prices have risen more than 30% in 2026 and freight rates about 50% on key routes, while importers returning to the market could spark a new wave of demand. Rising prices heighten the risk of social unrest and could prompt exporters to impose trade bans, worsening shortages.
- Andy Burnham urged to U - turn on hated farm inheritance tax raid in Budget
Farmers have urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to fully scrap the inheritance tax on farms introduced under Sir Keir Starmer's government, warning it threatens family farms. The threshold was raised to £2.5 million (£5 million for married couples) after a backlash, but farmers say tax bills can force families to sell land and make farms unviable. Sandy Wade-Gery, 76, whose Bedfordshire farm has been in his family since 1536, fears his son may be the last to keep it unless the tax is abolished. The Countryside Alliance and NFU also oppose the tax, while the Conservatives and Reform UK have pledged to reverse the changes if they win the next election. Further changes are speculated for next week's budget as Mr Burnham seeks to repair ties with farmers.
- Andy Burnham urged to U-turn on hated farm inheritance tax raid in Budget
Farmers have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to scrap the inheritance tax on family farms in the upcoming budget, saying the policy often forces families to sell land to pay the bill. The threshold was raised from £1 million to £2.5 million (£5 million for married couples) after a backlash, but farmers say that is not enough. Sandy Wade-Gery, whose Bedfordshire farm has been in his family since 1536, warned that his son could be the last William at the farm. The Conservatives and Reform UK have vowed to reverse the changes if they win the next general election, while the NFU opposes the changes and the Countryside Alliance calls for the tax to be scrapped entirely. There is speculation that further changes could be announced in next week's budget as Burnham seeks to mend ties with farmers.
- OMCs exclude sugarcane - based ethanol from FY27 tender , cut maize incentive
State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) have excluded ethanol made from sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and B-heavy molasses from their tender for the 2026-27 supply year, seeking to preserve domestic sugar supplies amid poor rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The tender, issued by BPCL on October 16, seeks about 11 billion litres of ethanol for November 2026 to October 2027 to support 20% ethanol blending in petrol. The procurement price for maize-based ethanol has been lowered to 68.86 rupees per litre from 71.86, and its incentive cut to 2.79 rupees from 5.79 rupees per litre. The shift is likely to raise the role of grain-based ethanol and C-heavy molasses, but the lower maize incentive could affect producer returns.
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- An AI bust could come from places investors arent watching , an economist says
Concerns about an AI bubble are growing, and TS Lombard's Dario Perkins warns that investors may be overlooking other risks. Debt among smaller cloud providers, model developers and suppliers could reach $2 trillion by the end of 2027. Perkins does not see this as a systemic risk, but warns that earnings disappointments and canceled orders could ripple through the ecosystem, and that a chip glut could follow over-ordering. Much of the industry's revenue growth still comes from spending within the AI ecosystem rather than from businesses and consumers outside it. He also flags political backlash, noting that ordinary people dislike AI and nearby datacenters, and warns that one high-profile accident could turn AI toxic.
- Yen jumps after JGB auction draws big demand , euro finds relief
The yen rose 0.2% to 158.15 per dollar in Asian trading after a 20-year Japanese government bond auction drew bids of 5.84 times the amount sold, well above the 4.01 times at the previous auction, and the yield fell 6 basis points to 3.71%. A State Street strategist said the record demand suggests sidelined cash is returning and that JGBs are becoming a relative haven from political and fiscal volatility in Europe, particularly France. Anti-government protests in France prompted curfews in several cities, while Italy said it would send 500 troops after two days of unrest, and the euro rallied 0.2% to $1.1234. Elsewhere, bitcoin slipped 0.3% to $81,674.25 and ether edged down 0.2% to $2,393.21.
- Unemployment rate dips to 4 . 7 % - but vacancies hit five - year low
Vacancies fell by 21,000 to 691,000 in the three months to September, the biggest drop since the three months to March and the lowest since July to September 2014 outside the pandemic, while unemployment dipped in the three months to August. Payroll numbers were down 66,000 over the year to September. The ONS said the fall was mainly among smaller firms struggling with higher labour costs, following rises in employer national insurance, the minimum wage and workers' rights. A CBI survey found labour costs and regulations were making it harder to create jobs, and firms urged the Chancellor not to add to their burden in the October 28 Budget. ICAEW's Suren Thiru said the labour market is 'running on idle' and unemployment could climb above 5 per cent, while Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith blamed Labour's 'Jobs Tax' and red tape.
- CNBC Daily Open: Tech rebounds in the U.S., but Asia isn’t buying it yet
U.S. tech stocks rebounded as the Nasdaq Composite rose more than 1% on Monday, with Nvidia up 1.4% and Tesla up 3.8%. In Asia, however, tech shares fell on Tuesday, with South Korea's Kospi down over 4% and Japan's Nikkei 225 down 1.6%. Nvidia also unveiled plans to back four German AI startups as part of its nearly $10 billion European investment commitment. Jenny Lee of Granite Asia said Asian companies are reaching IPOs much sooner, often at four to five years old, while Jio Platforms' Indian IPO saw its anchor investor quota oversubscribed more than 30 times, aiming to raise up to 302 billion rupees ($3.2 billion). In Singapore, several agricultural stocks fell after Senior Minister K Shanmugam warned that companies would not escape responsibility for possible roles in the haze, noting seven firms had been questioned by the Singapore Exchange.
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NiSource has nearly doubled shareholders' money over the past five years, delivering a 97.6% total return, which raises the question of whether dividends can justify the current share price. The article highlights a new 20-year energy agreement with Microsoft, including customer-funded grid upgrades and long-term electric service for data centers, which may affect future capital needs and cash-flow visibility. Using a Dividend Discount Model with inputs of about $1.35 dividend per share, roughly 9.07% return on equity, a payout ratio slightly above 61%, and implied dividend growth of about 3.5%, the estimated intrinsic value sits meaningfully below the current share price of $41.95. The model still does not bridge that gap, suggesting income investors are paying a premium for a relatively steady payout with modest assumed growth.
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