Economy
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is revealing critical vulnerabilities in the global semiconductor industry as disruptions linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threaten energy supplies and essential chemical inputs used in chip manufacturing. As the war enters......
Gold traded near the $5,000 per ounce mark on Monday as the United States and Israel conflict with Iran entered its third week, while rising oil prices complicated expectations for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and limited the metal’s upward momentum. Spot gold edged up about 0.1 percent......
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed global oil tanker freight rates to unprecedented levels, reshaping maritime trade and delivering exceptional profits for shipping companies that positioned themselves ahead of the crisis. Daily charter rates for very large crude carriers, or VLCCs,......
Bitcoin climbed sharply during Asian trading on Sunday, testing the $74,000 level as escalating tensions in the Middle East and surging oil prices pushed investors toward cryptocurrencies as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty. Other major digital assets also posted strong gains, allowing the broader......
Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Iranian officials warn of potential retaliation if the country’s energy infrastructure becomes a target of military strikes. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that Tehran would respond firmly to any attack on its energy facilities.......
Companies around the world are rapidly introducing energy surcharges as the oil shock linked to the Iran conflict pushes costs higher across transport, manufacturing, agriculture, and consumer industries. Economists warn that the combination of rising inflation and slowing economic growth is reviving......
Wealth managers in Switzerland are preparing for a surge of capital from Gulf investors as the conflict involving Iran shakes financial confidence in Middle Eastern economic hubs. Bankers and advisers overseeing more than one trillion dollars in assets say wealthy individuals across the Gulf are considering......
Iraq is confronting a severe economic shock as the near collapse of its oil exports threatens the government’s ability to pay public sector salaries as early as next month. Officials warn that the country’s oil dependent economy is approaching a fiscal crisis after the disruption of its main......
European equity markets posted their first back to back weekly decline of the year as the military confrontation involving Iran pushed oil prices higher and deepened economic uncertainty across the region. While energy producers and utilities gained from the surge in crude prices, banks, airlines, and......
China has begun releasing nearly 10 million tons of fertilizer from its national reserves while boosting domestic production to record levels as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz enters its third week, threatening global agricultural supply chains at the start of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring......
Shares of CF Industries Holdings surged more than 13 percent on Thursday, reaching a record high as the escalating conflict involving Iran disrupted global fertilizer supply chains. The nitrogen fertilizer producer closed at $136, up $15.87 for the session after touching an intraday peak of $137.44.......
Raw sugar futures climbed this week, trading above 14 cents per pound and rising roughly 7 percent over the past month as the escalating war involving Iran pushes oil prices higher and raises concerns about sugar production in Brazil. The rally follows a surge in crude prices after the conflict effectively......
The euro weakened for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday, sliding to its lowest level of 2026 as the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran continued to disrupt global energy markets and weigh on Europe’s energy dependent economy. The European Central Bank’s reference rate......
