Key points of the global economic news on April 8, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz receives positive signals after the ceasefire: following the announcement by the United States of a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has seen encouraging signs: two commercial vessels, the NJ Earth and the Daytona Beach, were able to pass through it smoothly on the morning of April 8th. According to Kpler data, maritime traffic in this strategic chokepoint, which accounts for 20% of the global energy supply, has decreased by 95% since the start of the conflict on February 28th, leaving around 800 ships immobilized. Despite intensified coordinated security efforts, experts recommend that shipping companies carefully assess the risks before fully restoring traffic in this strategic maritime route.

FTSE Russell maintains its plan to reclassify the Vietnamese stock market: The board of the FTSE Russell index has confirmed the continuation of its plan to reclassify the Vietnamese stock market as a secondary emerging market, scheduled for September 21, 2026. The organization plans to publish the list of eligible stocks on August 21, 2026. The integration of Vietnamese stocks into the global index basket will occur in several phases, from September 2026 to the end of 2027, to ensure a smooth transition and adaptation to market conditions.

Economic challenges for American workers in the face of the AI wave: A report from Goldman Sachs warns that artificial intelligence (AI) could increase the unemployment rate in the United States by 0.5 percentage points and lead to the loss of jobs for approximately 6 to 7% of workers over the next decade. To mitigate the risk of a net reduction of about 16,000 jobs per month, experts emphasize the urgent need to implement professional retraining programs to preserve workers’ incomes.

The global automotive industry faces competition and economic instability pressure: the global automotive market is under significant pressure due to the rise of Chinese electric vehicles and geopolitical disruptions, leading to a substantial decline in sales for many major manufacturers. While BYD has recorded its seventh consecutive month of declining sales in its domestic market, Tesla is also facing high stock levels and its weakest first quarter results in 2026 in a year. In important markets like the United States and the United Kingdom, economic instability, combined with rising energy costs and interest rates, is slowing consumption, forcing manufacturers to adapt to an increasingly intense competitive environment.

Geopolitical tensions become the main risk for central banks: a survey conducted by Central Banking Publications with nearly 100 central banks reveals that 70% of them now consider geopolitical tensions as the main global risk, surpassing concerns related to protectionist policies. While 80% of reserve managers still perceive the U.S. dollar as a safe haven, this position is being questioned, as the greenback has lost 12% of its value and confidence in U.S. bonds has decreased. In this context, gold remains the optimal choice: nearly 75% of central banks hold it, and around 40% are considering increasing their reserves to cope with unpredictable fluctuations.

IATA: Aviation fuel prices are not expected to drop immediately despite the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the restoration of energy supply will take months to stabilize due to disruptions in oil refining capacity in the Middle East, a region that supplies a fifth of the world’s traded oil. Faced with soaring fuel prices, airlines like AirAsia X have had to raise their fares by up to 40%, while United Airlines has reduced its capacity by 5% to deal with the short-term supply risk.