Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Asia Stocks Slip as Iran-Hormuz Tensions Lift Oil Prices, Dollar and Bond Yields 
South Korea Central Bank Set to Raise Interest Rates as Inflation Stays Elevated 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
European Stocks Slip as Middle East Tensions and Hormuz Threat Rattle Markets 
Global oil prices were on course for a weekly loss on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump granted Iran a 10-day extension before threatening to strike its energy infrastructure, offering markets a brief reprieve — though analysts warn the relief may be short-lived.
Brent crude dipped slightly to $107.97 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell to $94.08 per barrel in early Friday trading. Despite these marginal declines, both benchmarks have surged dramatically since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28 — WTI is up roughly 40% and Brent has climbed more than 48% since hostilities began.
For the week, however, WTI dropped 4.6% and Brent fell 4%, reflecting cautious optimism around de-escalation talks. Trump has pushed his April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously deploying thousands of additional troops to the Middle East and reportedly considering military action to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil hub. Iran rejected a 15-point U.S. peace proposal, calling it "one-sided and unfair."
Commodity analyst Priyanka Sachdeva of Phillip Nova noted that markets are pricing in war duration rather than reacting to diplomatic headlines, warning that any damage to oil infrastructure could trigger a rapid price spike.
The ongoing conflict has removed approximately 11 million barrels per day from global supply — a disruption the International Energy Agency has called more severe than the 1970s oil shocks and the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis combined. Asian economies are already drawing down strategic reserves to manage the strain.
Macquarie Group analysts project prices could surge past $200 per barrel if the war extends into late June, while an early resolution could bring a rapid price correction back toward pre-war levels.
