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South Korea's stock market has become Asia's most volatile due to the Iran war. Fears of massive value destruction are probably unfounded, but the panic is real. The benchmark KOSPI index dropped over 18% in the two days following the start of the conflict on February 28. This was its worst ever daily drop. The next day, it recovered almost 10%. The market has been struggling with volatility for more than three weeks. The 'KOSPI' is partly to blame for its own success. It had risen sharply in the year before the conflict began, and was up more than 100...

Investors tend to raise money first, and then ask questions. Investors who are aware of this phenomenon will not have a problem. It's a great opportunity. Gold dropped by nearly 4% in the four days following the first U.S./Israeli strike on Iran. So did European defence stocks. It seems strange. Gold has been historically a safe investment in turbulent times. Conflicts are usually the driving force behind military equipment demand. This is due to investor positioning, or more specifically, crowded trading. Many fund managers will execute a “program trade” to de-risk quickly and mechanically in order to raise money when...

Tom Westbrook gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Donald Trump, U.S. president, told reporters in the White House that "we're currently in negotiations". He boasted about the Iranians making a "tremendous amount of money" concession. However, he did not provide any?further information. He said, "It was an incredibly nice thing they did." Iran has not confirmed the claim, and an official Iranian news agency reported that a spokesperson for the armed forces said that "the U.S. was negotiating with itself". The tone of the speech has caused oil to fall and stocks...

Oil prices rose and stocks were on tenterhooks on Tuesday, as investors worried about the Middle East war were not satisfied with President Donald Trump's decision to postpone the bombing Iran's electricity grid. U.S. Treasury Yields increased and the dollar regained ground in a retracement of a relief rally that swept the markets overnight, after Trump extended his Saturday ultimatum to Iran for it to reopen Strait of Hormuz by 48 hours. Trump cited "productive" discussions Tehran. There was a lot of uncertainty as the world continued to deal with an energy crisis, while Iran denied having engaged in any...

The world markets reversed their course quickly on Monday, after U.S. president?Donald Trump announced that he would 'order the military to delay?any?"military strikes" against Iranian power stations and energy infrastructure. This eased uncertainty and fears over the consequences of a greater oil shock. Brent crude oil futures dropped sharply. The dollar fell against major currencies. Stock markets rallied. Government?borrowing rates fell. "Trump's five-day pause has triggered a?sort of TACO? movement in the markets, where all prices have moved lower and rates are rallying," said Evelyne GomezLiechti. Trump stated that the postponement was a result of productive discussions with Iran. Gomez-Liechti...

By Mike Dolan March 23rd - Mike Dolan, Editor at Large, Finance and Markets, explains what matters today in U.S. markets. Stocks and bonds have plummeted around the globe as the Middle East conflict intensifies. President Trump's deadline of 48 hours for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz expires on Monday. Trump has threatened to "obliterate' Iran's main?power plants, if Tehran doesn't comply with the demand. Iran said it would respond by attacking energy and water plants?across Gulf. The war is now in its fourth week and there are no signs of a de-escalation. The opposite is true. Below,...

Global shares fell on Monday, while U.S. Bond yields reached their highest levels in eight months as the U.S. traded escalating threat with Iran and Israel prepared for "weeks" of more fighting. This sent oil prices into another roller coaster. Iran said on Sunday that it would attack the water and energy systems of its Gulf neighbours if U.S. president Donald Trump carried out his threat to strike Iran's power grid within 48-hours. This ended any hope for an early end to this war, which is now in its 4th week. Trump said Iran has two days to open the...

As the United States and Iran exchanged escalating threat, and Israel planned "weeks" of more fighting, oil prices went on another roller-coaster. Iran warned on Sunday that it would attack?the water and energy systems of its Gulf neighbors if the?U.S. President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to strike Iran's power grid within 48 hours. This effectively ends any hope for an early conclusion to the war which is now in its fourth weeks. Trump warned Iran that it had only two days to open up the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is currently closed for all vessels...

The crude oil markets still price in a resolution of the Middle East conflict that will result in the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz. In pricing this outcome, the market actually makes it more likely that the narrow waterway which serves as a channel for as much as 20 percent of the world’s oil supply remains closed. The market still expects U.S. president Donald Trump to deliver TACO - the acronym for Trump always?Chickens out. Trump can continue the conflict by maintaining the price of paper crude oil below the level that would allow for a return to...

Ankur Banerjee gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets The selloff of stocks and bonds has increased as markets prepare for a war in the Middle East which could keep oil prices at $100 per barrel. Traders are scrambling to determine the risks associated with stagflation. Investors are bracing themselves for increased volatility as leaders from Iran, Israel, and the United States show their defiance. They have put on their risk-off caps and bought U.S. dollar. The global interest rate outlook has been completely transformed by the fading hopes for a quick resolution....

Global stocks fell on Thursday, as the attacks on oil tankers and the warning from Iran undermined the prospects for an imminent deescalation of the Middle East conflict. Oil prices briefly rose above $100 per barrel and inflation fears were stoked. The'reaction' shows how quickly bets placed on an early end to the 'war which gained momentum earlier in the week are being unwound. The contradictory messages of U.S. president Donald Trump has left traders fearful that they will be caught off guard, causing them to stay away from the markets or find refuge in safe havens. Wall Street stock...

Customs officials in South Korea announced?on Thursday they will 'intensify their crackdown on illegal auto exports to Russia after discovering that a growing number of vehicles are being sent via third-country countries like China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Korea Customs Service reported that illegal vehicle exports to Russia from South Korea increased by more than five times to 149.2 million won ($100.78m) in the last year compared with 2024 when Seoul tightened restrictions on exports in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Korea Customs Service said that some traders reported falsely to the customs offices that the cars were exported?to...

France is one of the countries that will invest in critical Australian minerals projects, according to Australia's Resources Minister on Thursday. Canberra's framework agreement with the U.S. encourages nations with advanced manufacturing industries to secure access to supply. Australia is on a mission for the past four years to create an industry that will produce?minerals? like rare earths, which are essential to technologies in future such as electronics and defense. Countries want to diversify away from China as their dominant supplier. Australia signed agreements with Japan, South Korea and India as well as France, Germany, Britain, France and Germany for...

After a brief dip in prices, copper prices fell on Thursday. This was due to rising'stocks' and weakening consumer demand, particularly in China, the world's largest consumer. Investors were also waiting for clarity about the possibility of ceasefire?in the Middle East. Benchmark 'three-month' copper on the London Metal Exchange dropped 1.17% to $13,177 per metric tonne by 0341 GMT, after finding some help from a weaker dollar the previous day. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract was down by 0.03% to?95.160 yuan per ton ($13.789.31), after reaching its highest price since March 19, at 96.590?yuan. The red metal,...

Iron ore futures rose Thursday on concerns about disruptions in Australian'supply due to ports being closed in the Pilbara area following a cyclone. As of 0226 GMT, the most-traded contract for?May?iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was trading 0.31% higher. It cost 818 yuan (US$118.45) per metric ton. The benchmark April Iron Ore on the Singapore Exchange rose by 2.15% to $107.45 per tonne. Pilbara Ports announced on Thursday that the ports at Ashburton and Cape Preston West were closed due to Tropical Cyclone Narelle. This has led to concerns about iron ore supplies from Australia, which is the...

Iron ore futures fell on Wednesday, after a?three-session rally. Fears of production 'cuts' in China’s steelmaking center of Tangshan pushed the price down. However, losses were?limited, as possible supply disruptions in Australia curbed declines. As of 0332 GMT, the?most-traded? May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange fell by 1.46% to 89.5 yuan (US$117.47) per metric ton. Iron ore benchmark April on the Singapore Exchange fell 1.46%, to $106.1 per ton. According to a WeChat announcement by the local authorities, Tangshan activated an emergency response of 'level two' on March 25 due to heavy air pollution. This stoked concerns...

London copper fell on Tuesday after Iran denied holding talks with the U.S. about ending the Middle East war and launched new missile attacks against Israel. In official open outcry, the benchmark three-month copper price on London Metal Exchange fell 1.6% to $11,974 per metric tonne. Metal prices rose 2% after U.S. president Donald Trump said that he had "very productive" talks with Tehran, and had postponed the threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. EwaManthey, ING commodities strategist, said: "Copper has eased today following yesterday's rebound as geopolitical confidence faded." The rise in oil prices and the strengthening dollar have...

Analysts and industry executives say that India's imports, which are a vital?raw material for steelmaking?, will reach a seven-year high in the fiscal year ending March 31. This is due to a shortage of ore of high quality and JSW Steel's demand. Analysts and trade officials have said that the total imports will likely reach 12 to 14 million tons in 2025-2026, which is more than double what they were a year ago. JSW Steel, India's biggest ?steelmaker by capacity, was a key driver of iron ore imports for its mills in the western state of Maharashtra ?and the southern...

Australia and the European Union have signed a deal on Tuesday after eight years of negotiations. The agreement removes tariffs from almost all European goods, and nearly 'all' exports of critical minerals from Australia. Some Australian agricultural products, such as beef and lamb meat, will be subjected to export quotas. Australian farmers have sharply criticized the pact, claiming that it provides "subpar access" to the bloc. Both sides intensified their talks after the Trump administration increased U.S. Tariffs, and the West became more concerned about China's dominance in rare earths and critical minerals. Both sides signed an agreement to strengthen...

Iron ore miner's fuel costs could rise by billions of dollars if diesel prices keep rising, said a senior executive at Australia's Fortescue on Monday. The 'U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran' has almost stopped shipments across the Strait of Hormuz. This has sent oil and gas prices up and reduced the supply of diesel fuel, a key transport fuel in the mining industry. Benchmark Singapore Diesel swaps traded at slightly over $180 a bar on Monday. This is up from $92.5 a bar before the outbreak of war, according to LSEG. Dino Otranto said in an interview with a...

Iron ore futures rose on Monday due to higher freight rates. Other steelmaking ingredients such as coking coal and coal also gained a lot of ground. This is because countries have been booking coal cargoes in order to meet their energy needs. The May contract for iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange traded at 819 Yuan ($118.57), a difference of 0.92%. As of 0706 GMT, the benchmark April iron ore price on the Singapore Exchange had increased by 0.02% to $108.25 per ton. Shanghai Metals Market reported that despite the Middle East conflict?iron ore, coke and coal substitution energy...

The top U.S. economic officials and Chinese leaders will launch a second round of negotiations in Paris on Sunday. They hope to smooth out the kinks of their trade truce, and prepare for Donald Trump's visit to Beijing at the end March to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Discussions between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are expected to center on the shifting of?U.S. Tariffs, the flow of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnetics to U.S. customers, American export controls, and Chinese purchases of U.S. agriculture products are all expected to be discussed. A source...

?Top U.S. economic officials and Chinese officials will launch a second round of talks on Sunday in Paris to smooth out the kinks 'in their trade truce, and to prepare for Donald Trump to travel to Beijing at the end of March to meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping. The U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, and the Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are expected to lead discussions on a number of issues, including shifting U.S. Tariffs, the flow of Chinese rare earth minerals to U.S. buyers and American export controls for high-tech products, and Chinese purchases U.S. agriculture products. A...

Aluminum fell on Friday as the dollar gained strength, but shipping disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict kept it on track for a weekly rise. Open outcry official activity showed that benchmark three-month aluminum?on London Metal Exchange was?down by 0.9% to $3,485.50 a metric ton. The metal was set to finish the week with a 1.3% gain after reaching a near four-year high Thursday. Last week, the metal jumped 10%. Tom Price, Panmure Liberum's analyst, said that the dollar was "the biggest mover." The dollar rose to its highest level in more than three months on Friday, as...