East Asia

Investors treaded carefully amid the dizzying Middle East developments, as Iran said it would consider a U.S. proposal to end the Gulf Conflict. The escalating war has jolted the global markets. Oil prices have soared, rekindling inflation fears, and causing global interest rate expectations to be thrown into chaos. In early Asian trading, the Nikkei was up 0.6% and South Korean stocks were down by 1.2%. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan edged down 0.23%, setting up for an 8.7% drop in the month. This is its largest monthly decline since October 2022. The dollar remained near its recent...

Stocks rose on Wednesday and oil prices fell, on reports that the U.S. is seeking a ceasefire for one month in its war against Iran. A 15-point plan was sent to Iran?for discussion. This raised hopes of a breakthrough which could help restore oil from 'the Gulf. S&P futures increased by 0.7% during the Asia day. European futures grew by 1.2%, and FTSE Futures rose by 0.7%. These modest gains reflect investor caution. Brent crude futures fell 5% to $99 per barrel. Japanese stocks rose by 3% while Australian and South Korean markets rose by 2%. This was a recovery...

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...

Prices of oil rose on early Tuesday due to supply concerns. Iran denied that it had held talks with the United States in order to 'end the Gulf War,' contradicting President Donald Trump, who claimed a deal would be made soon. Brent futures increased $1.06 or 1.1% to $101 per barrel at 0001 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $1.58 or 1.8% to $89.71. Crude futures fell more than 10% Monday after Trump announced he ordered a delay of five days to the attacks he threatened against Iran's nuclear power plants. He also said that the U.S. held productive discussions...

Market sources reported on Monday that the Japanese government was considering intervening in crude oil futures market, as the Middle East Crisis is driving energy prices'sharply up. If agreed upon, the move would 'follow Japan’s decision to release the largest amount of oil reserves ever, in coordination and cooperation with other countries, to ease the shortages caused by the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. One source stated that the government inquired about specific methods of intervening on the crude oil futures markets. Energy prices rose after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, according to the previous statements of the top executives...

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...

Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Now we have a Middle East war, Iran with ballistic missiles and a terrifying deadline. How very reality television. There will be a red timer in the corner of some news channels screen, counting down the seconds. On Saturday evening, Trump announced on social media that Iran had 48-hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or the U.S. was going to "obliterate' Iran's nuclear power plants. Trump gave Iran a deadline for Monday evening of 7:45 pm EDT (2345 GMT), ruining the morning of...

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...

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...

Mitsubishi Materials announced on Wednesday that it would stop processing copper concentrate at its Onahama facility - and all related smelting operations - by the end of March 2027. Mitsubishi Materials stated that the outlook for business was becoming more uncertain due to an intensifying competition with overseas smelters, and a steep decline in treatment and refinement charges (TC/RCs). It is expected to book an impairment loss of 132 million yen (21 billion yen) in the fourth quarter of this year's financial year, which ends on the end of this month. This loss will be mainly due to the fixed...

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...

Itochu Trading House announced?on Tuesday that it will form a Japanese joint venture with Electronic Recyclers International to recycle electronic equipment. Itochu plans to purchase a stake in ERI but has not disclosed the details. Japan has increased its efforts to recycle resources as geopolitical risk increases the need for recycling systems at home. Koichiro Nishimura, CEO of Itochu’s Belong used mobile device division, stated that Japan's recycling rate for electronic devices was only 20%. This means there's still significant room for growth. He added that "recovering and recycling Japan's urban mines" is essential to reduce environmental?impacts and promote sustainability....

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...