Economy
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with a de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has upended global energy markets, and the ripple effects are now reshaping how consumers around the world buy cars. With Brent crude surpassing 116 dollars a barrel this week, drivers from Seoul......
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, unveiled TurboQuant on Tuesday, March 24, an algorithm that compresses key‑value cache memory in large language models by a factor of six—and within hours memory and storage stocks were tumbling worldwide. The announcement reignited fears that advances in AI......
South Korea is evaluating the possibility of expanding driving restrictions to the general public amid rising global oil prices, officials said on Monday. The measure would aim to manage energy demand as supply strains intensify due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Finance Minister Koo......
Asia-Pacific governments have launched urgent fiscal programs, fuel subsidies and liquidity injections to steady markets rocked by the Middle East war. The conflict pitting the United States and Israel against Iran disrupts energy supplies and undermines economic confidence across the region. A Reuters......
Central banks across the globe have lifted their inflation outlooks less than a month after U.S. and Israeli forces struck Iran on February 28. The conflict's economic fallout spreads as energy prices soar and supply chains disrupt. Governments activate emergency measures to counter the crisis [reuters.com]. France's......
US and Israeli military strikes on Iran since February 28 have thrown Asia's $19 billion used car export industry into disarray. Ships avoid the Middle East, stranding cargoes at sea and overwhelming ports from Sri Lanka to China. Dealers feel the impact acutely. Umar Ali Hyder Ali runs Yokohama-based......
The energy shock triggered by the war in Iran is reshaping Asia’s energy outlook. Analysts say the disruption is accelerating the region’s shift toward renewable energy and electric vehicles, even as several countries increase coal use in the short term. Fighting has severely disrupted oil......
Nearly one month after US and Israeli strikes hit Iran on February 28, the effective Strait of Hormuz closure triggered Asia's worst energy crisis in decades. Regional governments rolled out fuel rationing, cut workweeks, and scrambled for alternative supplies. Asia depends on over 80% of the oil......
Foreign investors have withdrawn approximately 50 billion dollars from Asian equity markets in March, marking one of the largest capital outflows since the 2008 financial crisis as geopolitical tensions tied to the Iran conflict continue to disrupt global markets. Data from LSEG shows sustained net......
Government bond markets across Asia have come under heavy pressure as the conflict involving Iran drives oil prices higher and prompts a sharp withdrawal of foreign capital. Yields have climbed across major economies, reflecting rising inflation risks and shifting expectations for global monetary policy. In......
Escalating conflict in the Middle East could reduce economic output across Asia Pacific by up to 3 percent in a prolonged war scenario, according to a new assessment by Moody’s Analytics. The report projects regional growth slowing to 4 percent in 2026 from 4.3 percent in 2025, with further moderation......
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell sharply by nearly 5 percent on Monday, losing more than 2,600 points as escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered a broad selloff across Asian markets and intensified concerns over a prolonged energy-driven inflation shock. South Korea’s Kospi dropped......
The US dollar strengthened sharply as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated ahead of the expiration of President Donald Trump’s ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz, driving investors toward safe-haven assets and pressuring Asian currencies and equities. The dollar index rose to around......
