Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian equity markets closed out March 2026 on shaky ground, with most regional indexes posting significant monthly losses as the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran rattled investor confidence and disrupted energy markets. A sharp selloff in technology stocks compounded the damage across key markets.
South Korea's KOSPI was the region's worst performer in March, tumbling roughly 17% over the month and sliding 2.2% on Tuesday alone. The decline was driven by heavy selling in major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which faced growing uncertainty around long-term artificial intelligence chip demand. Despite the steep March retreat, the KOSPI remained approximately 21% higher for 2026 overall, reflecting the strong gains recorded earlier in the year.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and the broader TOPIX index followed closely behind, with monthly losses exceeding 9% and nearly 10%, respectively. Beyond the Iran conflict, Japanese markets were also weighed down by expectations of further interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan. India's Nifty 50 shed over 9% in March, reflecting the country's vulnerability to disruptions in oil imports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese markets declined moderately despite encouraging economic data. The CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite each fell less than 1% on Tuesday, and both were headed for monthly losses of 6% to 7%. Positive manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI figures for March offered little relief to investors focused on broader geopolitical risks. Australia's ASX 200 dropped around 7% in March following an interest rate increase from the Reserve Bank of Australia, while Singapore's Straits Times index was a relative bright spot, losing just 1.6%.
Sentiment across the region remained cautious, though U.S. futures rallied over 1% on reports that President Trump may consider ending the Iran conflict without a push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping lane for Asian energy supplies.
