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Protestors are taking issue with the government's response to the spike in fuel prices since the onset of the Iran war. View More

Trucks and tractors block O'Connell Street in the centre of the city, as protests continue for a third day against the rising cost of fuel due to the Middle East crisis, in central Dublin on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)Paul Faith | Afp | Getty Images Protests around fuel prices in Ireland are entering their fourth day, with three of the country's main refineries and terminals blockaded, and traffic in Dublin at a standstill.The demonstrations have been primarily instigated by farmers, agricultural contractors and road haulage operators, who are upset with the government's response to the spike in fuel prices since the onset of the Iran war.However, recognized industry bodies, including the Irish Farmers' Association and the Irish Road Haulage Association, are not involved.Countries around the world are grappling with higher fuel prices as a result of the Middle East conflict. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday he was "fed up" seeing energy bills in the U.K. fluctuate because of actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Oil prices were off their highs on Friday as shipping flows around the Strait of Hormuz remained severely restricted. Fuel protesters block the motorway outside Dundalk as protests continue for a third day against the rising cost of fuel due to the Middle East crisis across the country on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)Paul Faith | Afp | Getty Images The standoff in Ireland has seen petrol pumps in forecourts across the country run dry, with demonstrators claiming they will remain in place until they secure a meeting with the government to air their grievances over what they claim is a lack of support from authorities.The government has asked the country's army to be on standby to remove blockades at terminals and refineries. Taoiseach  — Irish for leader — Micheál Martin has described the protests as an "act of national sabotage," adding that he can't comprehend the logic of blocking access to fuel in the midst of a surge in prices.The Irish government announced in March a 250-million-euro ($293 million) package of measures to help households and businesses tackle the spike in prices, including a cut in excise duty on both diesel and petrol."We will navigate this period of volatility. But, to put it bluntly, nobody knows what the situation will be in a month from now; we must remain flexible in our response," Ireland's Finance Minister Simon Harris, said at the time. A man sits in the wheel of a tractor as fuel protestors block O'Connell Street in the centre of the city, as protests continue for a third day against the rising cost of fuel due to the Middle East crisis, in central Dublin on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)Paul Faith | Afp | Getty Images Government officials are due to meet with industry bodies on Friday to discuss the crisis, but Defense Minister Helen McEntee has confirmed that those protesting have not been given an invitation.  In a bid to cope with the fallout of the energy shock, governments around the world have been quick to impose measures from fuel export bans to loosening refining standards. The U.K. government last month introduced rules requiring developers to install heat pumps and solar panels in all new homes across England, while Greece has capped profit margins on fuel and supermarket products for three months. Price caps, taking the stairs, and short-sleeved shirts: How countries are coping with the Iran war energy shock Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Joshi says clean energy push could generate 5.1 million green jobs; Storage, EVs, and global partnerships to shape next phase of growth View More

Chinese assets emerged as an unlikely bastion of stability during a period where other traditional havens, such as gold and U.S. Treasurys, stumbled. View More

19 November 2025, China, Shanghai: Boats sail past downtown Shanghai on the Huangpu River. The tallest building on the skyline is the Shanghai Tower (rear). Bernd von Jutrczenka | Picture Alliance | Getty Images The outbreak of the Iran war sparked a sharp sell-off across most regions and asset classes in March, as investors weighed the impact the conflict would have on inflation and economic output. China proved to be an exception.Despite its status as one of the world's major oil importers, China averted the worst of the energy shock caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz thanks to multi-year efforts to diversify its energy mix and build up reserves.Its stockpile of over 1.2 billion barrels of oil and diverse mix of energy resources, such as coal, renewables and LNG, made it less vulnerable to upheaval in the Persian Gulf, through which 9% of global oil supply passes."Much of the low correlation observed from its capital markets in the last few weeks surely comes from the fact that, as the world's largest oil importer, it has been thinking strategically about a war for some time," Julian Howard, chief multi-asset investment strategist at Gam, told CNBC over email.China's relative insulation from the conflict could have its roots in the first trade war between the U.S. and China in 2018 during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term in office, according to Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at One Point BFG Wealth Partners."Back then, Trump punched China in the face, and what's happened since then is China started going to the gym, and they started to become more resilient and independent," he told CNBC. "Our attempt to limit their access to our technology just encouraged them to develop it themselves." Different characteristics Chinese government bonds emerged as an unlikely bastion of stability during a period where other traditional havens, such as gold and U.S. Treasurys, stumbled. Map of the Middle East and Iran on a globe under a magnifying glass in Shanghai, China on March 29, 2026. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images The 10-year Chinese government bond yield has stayed broadly stable at 1.81% since the conflict began, while U.S. Treasury yields moved almost 50 basis points higher to 4.297%.China is also one of the few major powers that hasn't experienced high inflation since 2022, potentially adding to the allure of Chinese bonds over the past month."Importantly, the main problem of this crisis was the inability of countries to react effectively, given very stretched fiscal deficits and debt levels and inflation at uncomfortable levels," Gustavo Medeiros, head of research at emerging markets asset manager Ashmore, told CNBC over email."China has been struggling with deflation, so its bond market was less exposed than other major markets. Lower yields mean there was a smaller tightening of financial conditions in China than other countries."Chinese assets may have also benefited from their underlying ownership profile.Despite being the largest country in the MSCI Emerging Markets index, less than 5% of its stocks and bonds are held by overseas investors, which limits the scope for forced selling, Medeiros added. China's stock market also experienced less severe declines than European and Asian peers in March, with its blue-chip onshore benchmark, the CSI 300, down 5.5% over the month. The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 8%, while India's Nifty 50 shed 10% and Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 14%. Competing with the U.S. Despite recent resilience, China is only just emerging from a prolonged bear market. Since 2021, the state has been grappling with slowing economic output, weaning itself off a property market bubble, and trying to find a balance between promoting a free market and stock exchange within a one-party autocracy.Just four years ago, many Western policymakers and investors were calling China "uninvestable." Shareholders have experienced underwhelming returns over the decades compared to Western equity markets, even as China revolutionized its growth story to become the world's second-largest economy. Since 2000, the MSCI China has returned 302%, compared to over 500% for the S&P 500. Crucially, the Chinese index is yet to surpass its 2021 highs, during which time the value of the US market has risen over 80%. Stock Chart IconStock chart iconHow the MSCI China has fared against the S&P 500 since 2000. As such, China comprises just 3% of the MSCI World index, despite contributing almost 20% to global GDP.China's ability to match – and, in some cases, surpass – U.S. technological innovation may prove the key in unlocking real shareholder value over the coming years."There's only one country, and that's China, competing vigorously with the U.S. in every industry across the board," Liqian Ren, director of modern alpha at WisdomTree, told CNBC in an interview."No other country right now has the capability to compete, not just in technology but in commercialization of the technology."WisdomTree sees AI, biotech, electric vehicles and batteries as the key areas where China is competing with the United States.Analysts also see China's potential to provide a helping hand to its Asian neighbors in developing energy security.Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told CNBC in an interview that China is hoping to convince regional partners it can provide stability and act as a shield from volatility originating from the U.S."[China is saying], 'We are here to provide economic development. We are here and we can help you ensure energy supply safety, because we are 80% of global solar panel production. So while you are working hard to insulate yourself from that volatility, we are here to help and we can provide stability,'" he added. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that this achievement showcases India’s commitment to energy security, sustainable development, and the vision of a Viksit Bharat View More

In the full year 2025-26, India’s solar India’s solar installations were 44.61 GW, taking the cumulative capacity to 150.26 GW View More

Maharashtra's state-owned power distribution firm will be split into two entities under a financial restructuring plan approved by the state cabinet on Tuesday and one of it will be listed on bourses after an IPO is launched within six to nine months of the recast process. View More

Maharashtra's state-owned power distribution firm will be split into two entities under a financial restructuring plan approved by the state cabinet on Tuesday and one of it will be listed on bourses after an IPO is launched within six to nine months of the recast process. The cabinet approved the financial restructuring of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL or Mahavitaran ), including its bifurcation and plan to launch an initial public offering (IPO) of non-agricultural business, at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Under the restructuring, Mahavitaran will be split into two entities -- one catering to industrial, commercial, domestic and other non-agricultural consumers, while the second company, MSEB Solar Agro Power Ltd (MSAPL), will be dedicated to supplying electricity to agricultural consumers, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement issued after the cabinet meeting. The cabinet approved listing of the non-agricultural distribution business of Mahavitaran in the capital markets through an IPO within six to nine months after the restructuring. The IPO will include a mix of fresh equity issuance and an offer for sale by the state government, it said. As part of the financial restructuring, the Maharashtra government will issue long-term bonds with a tenure of 15 years to address Mahavitaran's debt liabilities of about Rs 32,679 crore, which carry state guarantees, according to the statement. Live Events The move is expected to reduce the utility's debt burden and improve its financial health. The newly-created firm MSAPL will focus on agricultural power supply and development of solar-based energy systems for farming, aligned with the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0. The cabinet approved an initial capital support of Rs 2,500 crore for MSAPL. The restructuring aims to ensure energy security, improve service quality and bring sustainability in power distribution. It is also expected to facilitate investments in smart metering, digital distribution systems, grid modernisation and energy transition, according to the CMO. The government said the move will help provide reliable and uninterrupted power supply to all consumer categories, with a particular focus on ensuring availability of daytime electricity to farmers and promoting solarisation in the agriculture sector. .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)

Project Chittoor demonstrates how farmers can generate power while growing crops on the same plot View More

Solarsure has projects totalling 1.5 GW in the pipeline, says its founder Bhavesh Patidar View More

NASA’s first moon flyby since the Apollo era provided valuable science and some celestial sightseeing, marking a key step toward landing near the moon’s south pole in two years View More

Safety Controls and Devices' Rs 48 crore IPO opened with a flat grey market premium, signaling cautious investor sentiment. The company, an EPC player in substations and solar projects, aims to raise funds for working capital and debt repayment. Despite a solid anchor investor base and government-linked projects, execution risks and SME liquidity are key considerations for potential investors. View More

The Rs 48 crore IPO of Safety Controls and Devices opened for subscription on April 6, with grey market premium (GMP) remaining at 0%, indicating muted listing expectations for the SME issue. The IPO, which is entirely a fresh issue of 60 lakh shares, is priced in the band of Rs 75-80 per share and will close on April 8. The company is expected to finalise allotment on April 9, with listing scheduled on the BSE SME platform on April 13. At the upper end of the price band, the IPO values the company at a pre-issue market cap of around Rs 159 crore. The issue size and SME platform positioning, coupled with a flat GMP, suggest cautious investor sentiment despite a reasonable anchor participation. The company raised nearly Rs 13 crore from anchor investors ahead of the issue, with institutional allocation forming a significant portion. Of the net offer, nearly 49% is reserved for qualified institutional buyers, about 15% for non-institutional investors, and around 36% for retail investors. Retail participation requires a minimum investment of Rs 2.56 lakh for 3,200 shares. About the company Safety Controls and Devices operates as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) player, focusing on substations, solar projects, firefighting systems, and healthcare infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Ayush. The company primarily caters to government entities and utilities, with operations spanning power infrastructure and renewable energy segments. The company has reported steady profitability, with profit after tax at Rs 8.5 crore for the period ended January 2026, compared with Rs 9 crore in FY25. Revenue, however, saw some moderation to Rs 68 crore from Rs 103 crore in the previous financial year, suggesting some volatility in execution cycles typical of EPC businesses. Live Events Proceeds from the IPO will largely be used to fund working capital requirements at Rs 31.5 crore, along with Rs 6 crore earmarked for debt repayment and the rest towards general corporate purposes. While the company's government-linked order book and diversification into solar and EV infrastructure provide long-term visibility, the flat GMP suggests that investors are likely weighing execution risks, working capital intensity, and SME liquidity factors before committing aggressively. The subscription trend over the next two days will be key in determining listing performance, especially in a market where investor appetite for smaller IPOs remains selective. ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times) .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)