China's Inflation Data Misses Forecasts as Consumer Prices Slow in March 
China's Factory-Gate Prices Rise for First Time in Over Three Years Amid Global Cost Pressures 
Asian Stocks Rally on Ceasefire Hopes and Bargain Buying 
Bank of America Maintains Forecast for Two Fed Rate Cuts in 2026 Despite Inflation Risks 
Trump Slams Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Oil Restrictions Amid Fragile Ceasefire 
Iran War Fallout: How Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Egypt Are Struggling With Rising Energy Costs 
Bank of Korea Governor Nominee Warns of Action if Korean Won Weakens Further 
Federal Reserve Probes Big Banks Over Private Credit Exposure Amid Growing Systemic Risk Concerns 
U.S. Futures Slip as Iran Ceasefire Uncertainty and CPI Data Weigh on Markets 
Middle East Conflict Threatens Global Economic Stability, World Bank Warns 
U.S. Futures Plunge as Iran Ceasefire Talks Collapse and Hormuz Blockade Looms 
Chinese Brands Are Taking Over Brazil — And It's Just Getting Started 
Asia FX Slides as Dollar Surges Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Inflation Fears 
White House Warns Staff Over Insider Trading Amid Suspicious Oil Market Bets 
Japan Consumer Confidence Drops Sharply Amid Rising Fuel Costs and Middle East Tensions 
BCA Research Warns U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Could Collapse, Maintains Cautious Equity Outlook 
Global financial markets were rattled Monday after the United States announced a blockade on Iranian shipping following the breakdown of weekend peace negotiations. The decision has renewed fears over Middle East energy supply disruptions, sending oil prices sharply higher while stocks and bonds across Asia and Europe declined.
Brent crude futures climbed 7.3% to $102 per barrel, reflecting deep investor concern over the potential long-term impact on global energy supplies. The move effectively eliminates up to 2 million barrels of Iranian-linked oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic warned that if the U.S. escalates further with strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, the consequences for regional oil output could extend well beyond the duration of the conflict.
U.S. equity futures dropped 0.7%, while European futures fell 1.3%. Asian stock markets in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Sydney each declined roughly 1%. In bond markets, Japan's 10-year yield reached a 29-year peak of 2.49%, signaling growing inflation anxiety among investors. The U.S. dollar strengthened, with the euro dipping to around $1.1687, as traders shifted toward safer assets.
President Trump acknowledged on Sunday that elevated oil and gasoline prices could persist through the November midterm elections, highlighting the domestic political stakes tied to the ongoing crisis. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump and his advisers were considering limited military strikes on Iran, though no action had been confirmed.
Economists and market strategists warn that sustained high energy prices could force central banks in Europe and the U.K. to pivot toward interest rate hikes, reversing earlier expectations of rate cuts. Meanwhile, political developments in Hungary, where nationalist leader Viktor Orban lost power to a centre-right coalition, could unlock long-delayed EU funding for both Hungary and Ukraine.
