DD
MM
YYYY

CATEGORIES

PAGES

DD
MM
YYYY

spot_img

CATEGORIES

PAGES

Home Blog Page 25

UK Consumer Confidence in March Hits Weakest Level in Nearly a Year 

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
-
0

Recent data confirms a notable drop in UK consumer confidence in March 2026, hitting its weakest level in nearly a year according to the long-running GfK Consumer Confidence Index. The headline index fell to -21 from -19 in February, driven largely by a sharp deterioration in views of the general economic outlook over the next 12 months down 6 points to -37.

The primary trigger appears to be escalating conflict in the Middle East particularly involving Iran, which has raised fears of higher energy prices, renewed inflation pressures, and slower growth. Households are bracing for knock-on effects like increased fuel and utility costs, with analysts noting a ripple of fear spreading through sentiment.

Complementary data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Opinium survey paints an even gloomier picture: Expectations for the economy over the next three months plunged to -53 from -30 in February. Personal finance prospects fell to -17 from -6. Both readings mark the lowest since the BRC series began in 2024, described as the weakest in at least two years in some metrics.

This shift has translated into more defensive consumer behavior: a rise in the savings index and reduced willingness to make major purchases, even as personal finances views held relatively steady in the GfK data.

The UK economy was already facing headwinds entering 2026, including a cooling labour market, subdued spending growth, and earlier forecasts of modest GDP expansion around 1.0–1.1% for the year down from stronger 2025 expectations in some projections. Consumer spending has remained cautious despite prior real income gains, with households prioritizing essentials and saving more than pre-pandemic norms.

Retail sales showed softness even before the latest geopolitical spike, and higher energy costs could exacerbate cost-of-living pressures, potentially feeding into inflation and forcing tighter belts. The OECD has flagged the UK as facing one of the larger growth impacts among major economies from Middle East disruptions.

That said, this is a sentiment shock rather than a confirmed collapse in hard data yet. Official GDP, employment, and spending figures for Q1 2026 will provide a clearer test in coming months. The Bank of England and government will be watching closely for any spillover into actual consumption, which accounts for a large share of UK economic activity.

Weaker confidence often precedes slower retail, hospitality, and discretionary spending, which could weigh on growth and retailers. Surging oil and energy prices could complicate the disinflation path, though global factors might moderate some effects. Calls for measures like fuel duty relief or broader cost-of-living support may intensify, especially with pump prices rising.

The UK faces a genuine stress test from this combination of geopolitical uncertainty and pre-existing caution. Resilience will depend on how quickly tensions ease, whether inflation expectations remain anchored, and the underlying strength of the labour market and real incomes.

Economies have navigated similar sentiment dips before, but prolonged energy shocks could turn this into a more material drag on 2026 growth.

The Middle East conflict—specifically the escalation involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February 2026, followed by Iranian retaliation and a de facto disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—has triggered a significant energy price shock with broad ripple effects on the UK economy.

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about 20% of global seaborne oil and a substantial share of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Disruptions from attacks on energy infrastructure, threats to tankers, and insurance issues have sharply curtailed exports from the Gulf. This has driven: Brent crude oil prices up dramatically.

UK petrol prices rising noticeably: average petrol up ~17p/litre to around 150p and diesel even more since the conflict started. Every $10 rise in oil typically adds ~7p to pump prices. Wholesale gas prices surging; up over 90% in some reports, feeding through to higher electricity costs and forecasts of household energy bills rising by £300–£500+ annually from summer 2026.

The UK, as a net energy importer reliant on global markets, feels this acutely despite domestic North Sea production.

President Trump Publicly Criticizes German Chancellor Over Germany’s Reluctance on Iran

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
-
0

US President Donald Trump has publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Germany’s reluctance to treat the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran as a shared priority, particularly regarding security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the remarks recently while speaking at a conference in Miami, Florida, and in other comments. He referenced Merz saying the Iran war is not our war and not NATO’s war. Trump responded by drawing a parallel to Ukraine: Well, Ukraine’s not our war. We helped, but Ukraine’s not our war. He called the German statement inappropriate and highlighted frustration with limited allied support for securing key shipping routes amid the conflict.

Chancellor Merz has stated that Germany is not part of the war and does not want to become involved militarily. He has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of US and Israeli military actions, saying he’s not convinced they will lead to success and noting that the US and Israel are becoming more deeply entangled daily.

Merz has offered potential post-ceasefire cooperation but emphasized this is not a NATO matter. He reportedly told Trump in a call that he understands this stance, and Germany initially showed some alignment on goals like countering Iran’s regime but has grown more critical over strategy, lack of consultation, and escalation risks.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier went further, calling the Iran war a “disastrous mistake” and a breach of international law, warning of a profound rupture in transatlantic ties. Merz has been more measured, avoiding strong legal condemnations while pushing for an early end to hostilities due to economic and security concerns for Europe.

This stems from US and Israeli military actions against Iran reportedly involving strikes, with concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, regional stability, and disruptions to global energy shipping via the Strait of Hormuz. European allies, including Germany, have been reluctant to commit forces, leading to Trump’s irritation with NATO partners.

Earlier, Merz met Trump at the White House and expressed shared goals against Iran’s regime while hoping for a quick resolution.
Trump’s framingTrump has used the exchange to underscore his “America First” approach: if allies won’t fully back US efforts in the Middle East, the US may reconsider its level of involvement elsewhere.

This fits his pattern of pressing NATO members on burden-sharing. The exchange highlights ongoing transatlantic friction during Trump’s second term, with Germany balancing support for Israel/US goals against domestic caution, economic risks, and preference for diplomacy/ceasefires. Merz has faced criticism at home for his handling—some see it as too deferential to the US initially, others as insufficiently firm.

This remains a developing story amid the broader Iran conflict, with both sides signaling interest in de-escalation while disagreeing on roles and timelines. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint. It handles the vast majority of energy exports from the Persian Gulf region, home to some of the planet’s largest oil and gas reserves.

In recent years roughly 20–21 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil, condensate, and petroleum products have flowed through the strait. This equates to: About 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
Roughly 25% or up to 27% of total global seaborne oil trade.

Rje Strait of Hormuz also carries significant liquefied natural gas (LNG), primarily from Qatar around 19–20% of global LNG trade. Additional traffic includes refined products, petrochemicals, and container ships. On a normal day, around 100 cargo vessels (60–70% of them oil/gas tankers) transit the strait.

About 80–84% of the oil heading through the strait goes to Asian markets especially China, India, Japan, South Korea, making Asia particularly exposed. The U.S. imports a smaller share directly around 400,000 b/d pre-conflict, or ~7% of its crude imports.

Foreign Outflows Persist on NGX Despite Pickup in Inflows, Underscoring Fragile Investor Confidence

By
Samuel Nwite
-
0

Foreign investor activity on the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed signs of life in February, but the underlying signal remains one of caution, with capital exits still exceeding inflows despite a notable rebound in participation.

The latest Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Investment Report shows foreign inflows rose sharply by 39.39% to N66.71 billion, suggesting a tentative return of offshore interest after a weak start to the year. Yet that optimism was tempered by a continued rise in outflows, which climbed 9.12% to N72.32 billion, leaving a net outflow of N5.61 billion.

While narrower than January’s N18.42 billion net exit, the February figure extends a pattern that has defined Nigeria’s equities market in recent years: foreign investors are willing to trade, but remain reluctant to stay.

The dual increase in inflows and outflows points to a market driven more by short-term positioning than long-term conviction. Analysts say part of the inflow rebound likely reflects bargain hunting as equity prices adjust, alongside tactical allocations aimed at capturing yield in a high-interest-rate environment. However, the persistence of outflows indicates that many investors continue to take profits quickly or reduce exposure at the first sign of volatility.

In absolute terms, foreign participation is rising, with total transactions increasing 21.81% to N139.03 billion. But in relative terms, its footprint is shrinking. Foreign investors accounted for just 9.01% of total market activity in February, down from 13.24% in January — a reminder that the market’s recent surge has been overwhelmingly domestic in origin.

Total turnover on the exchange jumped 78.93% to N1.542 trillion, driven almost entirely by local investors. Institutional players led with N854.83 billion, while retail participation stood at N548.50 billion. Combined, domestic investors accounted for more than 90% of all transactions, reinforcing their role as the market’s primary source of liquidity.

This dominance has become structural. Over time, Nigeria’s equities market has evolved into one largely sustained by local capital, partly due to recurring bouts of foreign investor retreat triggered by currency instability, inflation, and policy uncertainty. While this has insulated the market from abrupt external shocks, it has also limited the depth and diversity of capital flows.

The year-to-date numbers reinforce that trend. Foreign inflows totaled N114.57 billion in the first two months of 2026, compared with outflows of N138.60 billion, resulting in a net exit of N24.03 billion. Foreign participation accounted for just 10.53% of overall transactions, dwarfed by domestic activity at 89.47%.

Behind these figures lies a familiar set of concerns. Currency risk remains at the forefront. For foreign investors, returns in naira terms can be quickly eroded by exchange rate depreciation, making the timing of entry and exit critical. Questions around liquidity in the foreign exchange market and the ease of repatriating funds continue to weigh on sentiment.

At the same time, elevated inflation and tight monetary conditions complicate the outlook. While higher interest rates can attract yield-seeking capital, they also signal underlying economic stress and can dampen corporate earnings, limiting the appeal of equities.

From the analysts’ perspective, February’s data suggests that some investors are willing to test the waters, but not yet commit fully. The improvement in inflows points to selective confidence, possibly tied to specific sectors or undervalued stocks. However, the continued rise in outflows indicates that broader concerns about macroeconomic stability remain unresolved.

The sharp increase in total market turnover adds another layer to the picture. It is seen as a reflection of strong domestic engagement, but also hints at increased trading activity rather than sustained investment—a dynamic that can amplify volatility if sentiment shifts.

For the market to attract durable foreign capital, analysts say a clearer policy framework will be essential, particularly around exchange rate management and inflation control. Stability in these areas would reduce the risk premium currently attached to Nigerian assets and encourage longer-term allocations.

However, foreign investors appear content to engage opportunistically rather than strategically — stepping in when valuations are compelling, but stepping out just as quickly when risks resurface. Currently, the Nigerian market is thriving on the strength of domestic participation, even as it waits for a more decisive return of foreign capital.

Bitcoin Mining Hashprice Has Fallen to Some of the Lowest Levels in Recent Years

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
-
0

Bitcoin mining’s hashprice—the expected daily revenue per unit of computing power typically measured in USD per petahash per second per day, or $/PH/s/day—has fallen to some of the lowest levels in recent years, with multiple reports highlighting new lows or near-record lows in early-to-mid 2026.

Hashprice measures how much revenue from block rewards plus transaction fees a miner can expect from 1 PH/s (petahash per second) of hashrate per day. It directly reflects mining profitability and is influenced by: Bitcoin’s price Network hashrate (total computing power). Mining difficulty (which adjusts roughly every two weeks to keep blocks ~10 minutes apart).

When Bitcoin’s price drops or hashrate, difficulty rises sharply, hashprice compresses, squeezing margins. In February 2026, hashprice hit all-time or post-halving lows around $0.03 per TH/s/day; equivalent to roughly $28–$32 per PH/s/day in various reports, amid a Bitcoin price decline from highs near $95,000–$126,000 toward the $60,000–$70,000 range.

This marked a roughly 35% drop year-over-year in some metrics and followed the 2024 halving’s long-term impact on rewards. As of late March 2026, current hashprice hovers around $31–$33 per PH/s/day, still near historic lows and pressuring less efficient operations.

 Network hashrate has fluctuated, recently dipping below 1 ZH/s (zetahash per second, or 1,000 EH/s) at times—down from peaks over 1.1–1.2 ZH/s in 2025—partly due to miners powering down unprofitable rigs. Difficulty has also seen notable drops (e.g., second-largest of 2026 recently), providing some relief by reducing competition.

Bitcoin price volatility: Sharp corrections directly lower revenue per hash. High hashrate and difficulty: More efficient machines and network growth increase competition, spreading rewards thinner. The 2024 halving cut block rewards in half; combined with subdued transaction fees at times, this has made 2025–2026 particularly challenging.

Energy price spikes, leading to curtailments or shutdowns. Many miners, especially those with higher electricity costs or older hardware, are operating at breakeven or losses. Estimates suggest 15–20% of the global fleet may be unprofitable at these levels, with some public miners reporting weighted average cash costs near $80,000 per BTC mined.

This has led to hashrate reductions, hardware price drops, and even some sales of BTC to cover expenses. Miners are adapting in several ways: Curtailment and energy trading: Shutting down during high power prices and earning credits from grids. Many large operations are repurposing infrastructure for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, which can yield 5–10x higher revenue per MW than pure Bitcoin mining.

Listed miners have announced tens of billions in AI-related contracts, potentially shifting up to 70% of revenue away from BTC by end-2026. Efficiency improvements: Newer, more energy-efficient ASICs and better management software.

Historically, such periods of low hashprice and miner capitulation have preceded hashrate recoveries once difficulty adjusts downward and/or Bitcoin’s price rebounds. Lower hashrate can make remaining miners more profitable per unit of power.

Bitcoin trades around $66,000–$68,000, with hashrate near or below 1 ZH/s and hashprice still compressed. While painful for pure-play miners, these dynamics highlight Bitcoin’s resilient design: the network self-regulates via difficulty adjustments, and weaker players exit, strengthening long-term security.

This is a classic cyclical phase in mining economics—challenging in the short term but often setting up for stronger periods when conditions improve. They remain the best way to track ongoing developments.

GetProfit Affiliate Program 2026: Exclusive ExpertOption Offers

By
TI Partners
-
0

Affiliate marketing in the trading space has become increasingly structured and data-driven in recent years. In this environment, the GetProfit stands out as a next-generation affiliate program. Rather than depending only on referral links, it offers advanced analytics, flexible reward models, and tools to build brand awareness, giving affiliates a more reliable way to improve conversions and maintain stability in 2026.

This GetProfit review examines how the partner program works in practice to ensure e, from the affiliate dashboard and promotional tools to payouts, security, and long-term earning mechanics.

The goal is to evaluate whether the program offers a reliable and competitive structure compared to typical financial affiliate networks.

Visit our website to explore the platform and create your account.

ExpertOption: Brief Overview

ExpertOption was founded in 2014 as an online trading platform offering fixed-time trading across multiple asset classes. Over time, it built a global user base supported by a recognizable interface, mobile applications, and a low entry threshold for new traders.

The company operates under a defined legal framework in the regions where it provides services, and its long market presence is one of the factors behind the launch of the ExpertOption partner program. It is designed for:

  • Beginners entering affiliate marketing
  • Finance bloggers and trading educators
  • Influencers with an existing audience
  • Website owners exploring monetization options

For affiliates, brand familiarity plays a practical role: recognized platforms tend to convert traffic more consistently than unknown offers.

Core platform characteristics often highlighted in affiliate funnels include:

  • A browser-based and mobile trading environment
  • A demo account for new users
  • Tiered trading accounts with additional privileges
  • A wide selection of trading instruments

The GetProfit program was introduced to formalize cooperation with marketers and provide them with direct access to tracking, reporting, and payout systems.

Affiliate Dashboard: Interface and Functionality

The GetProfit affiliate dashboard for the ExpertOption trading platform is designed with a “nothing extra” approach. The interface stays clean and uncluttered, while key sections — like statistics, marketing materials, and payout details — are organized intuitively. This layout makes it easier for beginners to get started and helps experienced affiliates work more efficiently.

Real-time analytics is one of the central components. Affiliates can monitor:

  • Clicks and unique visitors
  • Conversion rates
  • Revenue by campaign
  • Geographic performance of traffic

This level of detail allows content creators to adjust funnels based on actual behavior rather than assumptions — an essential feature for anyone treating affiliate marketing as a long-term project.

Promotional materials are available directly inside the panel. These typically include localized landing pages, banners, and ready-to-use tracking links. For affiliates running paid traffic or managing multiple content channels, having these resources in one place simplifies campaign management.

The dashboard is fully functional in mobile browsers, allowing affiliates to:

  • Check statistics on the go
  • Monitor campaigns outside regular hours
  • Request payouts without needing a laptop

For affiliates who operate dynamically, this flexibility becomes a significant advantage, letting them stay in control of their campaigns anytime, anywhere.

Account Types and Their Practical Impact

Although GetProfit is separate from trading activity, understanding ExpertOption account tiers helps affiliates explain the platform to their audience more accurately.

The main levels — Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Exclusive — differ in platform privileges, withdrawal limits, and support priority. Higher tiers typically provide:

  • Faster withdrawal processing
  • Larger transaction limits
  • Access to advanced analytical features
  • Personal account management

For affiliates, this information is not about encouraging upgrades but about setting realistic expectations for referred users. Traders planning regular withdrawals, for example, often benefit from completing verification early and choosing account conditions that match their transaction frequency.

Trading Instruments as a Conversion Factor

ExpertOption provides access to multiple asset categories, including currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, stocks, commodities, and indices. For affiliates, variety is less about trading strategy and more about audience appeal. A broader asset list allows content to target different interests — from forex-focused readers to crypto communities.

Fixed-time trade mechanics also influence user experience. Funds involved in active trades remain locked until expiration, which means withdrawals can only be requested once positions are closed. Explaining this clearly in reviews or tutorials helps reduce confusion and support requests — something experienced affiliates often learn to do early.

The minimum trade amount helps new traders manage their balance effectively. A low entry threshold makes it easier to experiment with the platform, gain confidence, and reach the minimum withdrawal amount. For affiliates, this also indirectly speeds up the completion of key actions that contribute to partner goals.

Deposits, Withdrawals, and Affiliate Conversions

Financial operations are one of the strongest behavioral factors in affiliate performance. The easier it is for referred users to fund their accounts, the higher the conversion rate tends to be.

ExpertOption supports several deposit methods:

  • Bank cards
  • E-wallets
  • Cryptocurrencies

Processing times are generally short, while external payment providers may apply their own fees. Regional availability can vary, which is why affiliates working with international traffic often create different funnels for different countries.

Withdrawals follow a structured process with identity verification as a mandatory step. From an affiliate perspective, transparent withdrawal rules increase user trust and reduce refund or complaint rates — both of which affect long-term earnings. In this way, easy deposits help boost conversions, while clear and transparent withdrawal rules build trust and keep users engaged. Together, these factors support more stable earnings in affiliate marketing.

Commission Models and Earnings Logic

The ExpertOption commissions structure is designed to accommodate different traffic strategies. Depending on the agreement, affiliates may work with revenue-share models, performance-based payouts, or hybrid options.

Revenue share is typically suited for long-term audience projects, such as blogs, YouTube channels, or educational communities, where engagement grows gradually, and commissions accumulate over time. CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) models, by contrast, reward affiliates for each confirmed action — such as a first deposit, account registration, or completed trade. This makes CPA ideal for high-volume campaigns or short-term promotions where immediate results and measurable returns are the priority.

GetProfit allows affiliates to choose between these models depending on their audience and strategy. Some partners even combine approaches, using CPA for rapid conversions while building a revenue-share base for sustainable long-term growth. This flexibility makes the program adaptable to different types of marketing efforts and user behaviors.

The program doesn’t guarantee a fixed income — earnings depend on traffic quality, audience relevance, and consistency of content. Its main strength lies in its flexible structure, which lets partners scale campaigns at their own pace. Affiliates can choose strategies that fit their workflow, and the system adapts to support them.

Security and Regulatory Framework

Trust is a key conversion factor in financial affiliate marketing, and security infrastructure is part of that trust.

ExpertOption uses SSL encryption for all data exchanges — from trader accounts to the affiliate dashboard. Personal and financial information is stored according to internal protection protocols, and KYC verification is required to process withdrawals and affiliate payouts.

From a marketing perspective, these procedures serve two purposes:

  • Reducing fraud and chargebacks
  • Increasing user confidence during registration and funding

The platform’s legal structure and transparency also contribute to its reputation, which directly affects how easily affiliates can convert traffic.

Reputation and Market Position

In affiliate marketing, brand perception often matters as much as commission rates. ExpertOption’s long-term presence in the market means that potential users are more likely to have encountered the name before — through reviews, social media discussions, or trading communities.

Feedback related to payouts and platform stability is particularly relevant for affiliates because consistent financial operations tend to correlate with lower churn and higher lifetime value of referred users.

A recognizable brand does not guarantee conversions, but it usually shortens the decision-making process for new registrations.

Customer Support for Affiliates

Support infrastructure is another operational factor that becomes noticeable only when something goes wrong — for example, tracking discrepancies or payout questions.

Affiliates can contact the team via:

  • Email
  • Website contact forms
  • Official social channels
  • Dedicated partner support

Response times vary depending on the complexity of the request, but affiliate-related issues such as payment processing or campaign setup are typically handled through specialized channels.

For high-volume partners, priority communication may be available, which helps resolve technical or financial questions faster and maintain campaign continuity.

How It Compares to Typical Trading Affiliate Programs

Compared with many financial affiliate networks, the GetProfit 2026 affiliate program focuses on three practical elements:

  • A simplified onboarding process
  • Detailed real-time analytics
  • A recognizable end product

Many financial affiliate networks offer high short-term payouts but struggle with weak brand recognition or unreliable tracking. Others have strong brand awareness but limited analytics tools, which makes it harder for affiliates to scale campaigns effectively. GetProfit’s competitive position comes from balancing both aspects rather than excelling in only one.

Final Evaluation

As an editorial GetProfit affiliate program review, the program stands out not because it promises unusually high commissions, but because it provides a structured environment for building long-term affiliate projects and exclusive ExpertOption offers.

For beginners, the main advantage is a clear dashboard and ready-to-use promotional materials. For experienced marketers, the value lies in analytics depth and flexible earning models.

GetProfit stays competitive by striking the right balance: it offers a convenient starting point, transparent statistics, and a well-recognized platform, without relying on just one factor. This balanced approach reduces risks for affiliates and makes the program more predictable and sustainable over the long term.

1...242526...8,438Page 25 of 8,438

© Tekedia. All rights reserved.

Term & Privacy

© Tekedia. All rights reserved.

Term & Privacy