Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
The U.S. dollar gained ground on Thursday, rising 0.3% to 99.90 on the US Dollar Index, as conflicting signals surrounding U.S.-Iran peace negotiations renewed demand for safe-haven assets. Investors looking for stability amid geopolitical uncertainty continued to favor the greenback, putting it on track for a monthly gain of over 2%.
Mixed messages emerged from Washington and Tehran regarding a 15-point peace proposal. While Iran publicly rejected the terms, President Trump insisted that negotiations were actively progressing, stating that Iranian negotiators were eager to reach a deal. In a later social media update, Trump confirmed he was extending the suspension of U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure by 10 days at Tehran's request, signaling that dialogue, however fragile, remains open.
Oil markets remained elevated, with crude prices hovering above the $100-per-barrel mark. Though prices have eased from a near-$120 peak earlier in March, they remain significantly higher than pre-conflict levels from late February. A key concern continues to be the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments and has remained effectively closed for weeks due to the threat of Iranian naval attacks. Israeli officials reported that a senior Iranian naval commander was killed in overnight strikes, further complicating the situation.
The ongoing energy price shock is stoking inflation fears worldwide. Analysts now widely expect central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, to respond with interest rate hikes in the coming months. Europe is already grappling with surging gas prices, while Asian economies are feeling acute pressure from supply disruptions tied to the strait closure.
Currency strategists at ING noted that markets would need clearer signs of de-escalation before the dollar sees any meaningful decline. Meanwhile, the euro, British pound, and Japanese yen all saw limited movement against the dollar.
