South Korea's Exports Hit Record High in March on AI-Driven Chip Demand 
China Manufacturing PMI Hits 12-Month High Amid Energy Price Concerns 
Asian Stocks Mixed in March 2026 Amid Iran War Fears and Tech Selloff 
RBC Capital: European Medtech Firms Show Minimal Middle East and Energy Risk Exposure 
Bessent: Global Oil Market Well Supplied as U.S. Eyes Hormuz Navigation Control 
U.S. Stock Futures Surge After WSJ Report on Trump's Iran War Exit Strategy 
Iran Strikes Oil Tanker Near Dubai Amid U.S. Threats and Ongoing Middle East Conflict 
U.S. Stocks Surge on Iran War De-escalation Hopes 
Australia Bans Card Payment Surcharges Starting October 2025 
Dollar Surges to Nine-Month High as Middle East Tensions Drive Safe-Haven Demand 
Aluminum Prices Surge Toward Four-Year Highs After Gulf Smelter Strikes 
Asian Stocks Surge on Trump's Iran War Comments and Dip-Buying 
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and BOJ Signals 
Oil Prices Dip as Trump Eyes Iran De-escalation, Hormuz Closure Persists 
U.S. Trade Rep Dismisses WTO's Future Role After Failed Cameroon Summit 
WTO Ministerial Collapse Leaves Global Digital Trade Rules in Limbo 
Bitcoin Hits New Heights Amid Trump Election Speculation
On Monday, Bitcoin's price surged, briefly reaching a three-month high of $69,007.1, as speculation grows around Donald Trump's potential victory in the upcoming 2024 elections. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is now within $5,000 of its all-time high, and surpassing the $70,000 mark could signal a bullish trend.
Trump’s Pro-Crypto Stance Fuels Market Optimism
Recent polls and prediction markets indicate an increasing likelihood of a Trump win over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The crypto prediction platform Polymarket shows a 60.7% probability of Trump's victory compared to 39.1% for Harris. Trump's campaign is noted for its pro-cryptocurrency stance, promising to foster Bitcoin's growth in America and even accepting crypto donations.
The potential for a Trump presidency has traders optimistic about more favorable crypto regulations in the U.S., a significant issue in light of recent scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). While Harris has expressed intentions for a regulatory framework for crypto, specifics remain unclear.
Broader Crypto Market Gains
As Bitcoin rallies, other cryptocurrencies are also benefitting. Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 3.8% to $2,740.14, nearing a two-month high. Notably, SOL and ADA saw increases exceeding 6%, while XRP and MATIC gained nearly 4%. Among meme tokens, DOGE rose by 4.6%.
Recent data indicates that institutional investors are returning to the cryptocurrency market, further buoying prices as the election approaches. With just over two weeks until the vote, the market is bracing for a tightly contested presidential election.
