The dollar rallied to a 19-month high against its major peers on Thursday as traders bet on further Federal Reserve rate hikes, while the yen wobbled after comments from a dovish central banker and Japan’s top currency diplomat warning of volatility.

Bengal Group has agreed to sell its 57.64-katha, under-construction Swiss Tower on Dhaka’s Tejgaon Link Road to Pubali Bank for Tk 800 crore, ending a decade-long plan to bring the Swissôtel brand to Bangladesh. The project had been backed by a $36 million foreign loan arranged through Mutual Trust Bank from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), and Bengal Group had sought an additional $50 million in 2015. Bengal Group said losses from vandalism and arson at three Gazipur factories after the political changes of August 5, along with delayed insurance settlements, drove the decision. Pubali Bank said the purchase would provide a permanent corporate headquarters after years of operating from multiple rented offices.

IEA data show 14.95 million barrels per day of crude oil exports transited the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. Iran accounted for about 1.69 mbd and is expected to keep relying on the strait over the long term because it effectively controls the waterway. Of the remaining 13.26 mbd, as much as 11.5 mbd could eventually be rerouted by maximising existing pipeline capacity and completing projects under construction, based on official announcements and industry experts. Before war broke out in late February, Saudi Arabia was already shipping around 2 mbd via its EastWest Pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery south of Moscow, sending thick smoke over the city and drawing widespread attention. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that a direct NATO-Russia confrontation could escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes with “catastrophic consequences.” He also said Russia plans regular large-scale conventional strikes against targets that directly affect Ukraine’s combat readiness. The incident has sharpened concerns over the security of energy infrastructure and the fragility of Black Sea and Russia–Europe energy routes, despite no known export disruption.