Western Europe

The markets overshoot and the recent dramatic increase in bets placed on higher interest rates due to the Middle East energy crisis is the latest example: although the move was logical, its magnitude remains questionable. The Iran War shows no signs of stopping and the?markets are still in flux. Rates traders may need to take a break and re-evaluate. The abrupt change in global 'rate outlook' reflects concerns about the short-term impact on inflation of the soaring prices for oil and gas. Federal Reserve now has a higher probability of raising U.S. interest rates in this year rather than cutting...

Confindustria, Italy's leading business lobby, forecast that the economy would grow by 0.5% in this year. This is a reduction from the 0.7% it had predicted in October. It also warned of'strong' 'downside risks' if the Iran conflict continues. The third largest economy in the Eurozone saw its gross domestic product rise by 0.5%, marking the third consecutive year of growth below 1%. Confindustria stated in its bi-annual report that the 0.5% growth scenario for 2026 was based on an "optimistic hypothesis" that?the conflict in Iran would be over by March's end. The business group warned that if the hostilities...

The minutes from the most recent meeting of the Riksbank on monetary policy showed that the future is uncertain. Erik Thedeen, Governor of the Riksbank, said that it was difficult to assess?the effects? of war but warned of the dangers of stagflation (higher inflation and lower growth). Thedeen stated in the minutes that "given the length of time the crisis has been going on and the effects already being felt by the energy infrastructure, I am concerned about the long-term impact this may have on the supply of oil and natural gas in the world." On March 19, the Riksbank...

The Iran War and the global energy crisis it unleashed could have "killed" the idea of an asset that fits all. It is not a novel concept given the poor performance of the U.S. Treasuries did well after the Russian invasion of Ukraine four years earlier. The extraordinary fall in gold prices since the U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran, February 28, has brought it into the spotlight. In times of increased economic, geopolitical or financial uncertainty, investors tend to flock to gold, Swiss franc, Treasuries and the dollar. These are the assets that will most likely serve as a...

Dutch Central Bank Governor,?Olaf Sleijpen?said Tuesday that the rising oil and gas prices will likely affect the economy faster than they did during '2022's energy crisis. The Dutch representative in the ECB Governing Council stated that he and his colleagues would have more information on their April meeting about the second-round effect, which occurs if firms raise?their price to offset higher input cost and employees demand higher wages. We can't control the price of oil and gas, but we are able to act if we notice second-round effects. "I think we'll have more information?on that front - in April", he...

The British government announced on Monday that the Iranian ambassador in the UK was summoned. Last week, an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual citizen were arrested on suspicion of aiding Iran's spy services. Two men were accused in a London Court last week of 'being involved in gathering information from Iranian spy services and conducting reconnaissance of Jewish targets within?Britain over a five-week period in the summer of last year. The British Foreign Office said that "national security is our number one priority and we take the threats posed by Iran and those who follow its orders 'extremely serious."...

According to the preliminary results from 'the state election commission', based on?the most votes?counted?, the right-leaning Slovenian Democratic Party and liberal Freedom Movement were tied at Sunday's parliamentary elections in Slovenia. Even with their existing coalition partners, neither party appeared likely to win the 46 seats required for a majority of the 90-seat Parliament. This makes smaller parties who cross the 4% threshold potentially kingmakers. SDS won 28 seats. Based on 99.45% counted votes, GS was in a close race with SDS. With the support of the other parties, GS, led by the incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob, would have...

The British government announced that Prime Minister Keir starmer will chair an urgent meeting on the economic impact of the war in Iran, on Monday. Finance minister Rachel Reeves, and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey are expected to attend. Investors should prepare for another turbulent?week on the financial markets, after Iran warned that it would 'hit the energy and water system?of its Gulf neighbours' if U.S. president Donald Trump followed through on his threat to strike Iran’s electricity grid. The British are watching this situation with particular concern. The high level of inflation, the country's dependence on natural gas...

Analysts were cautious, however, as they feared that the weekend could bring about unexpected changes to the war status two weeks after its start. Brent futures were up $1.59 or 1.58% to $102.05 a barrel at 11:35 AM CDT (1635 GMT), pointing towards a weekly gain. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), for April, gained $1.15 or 1.2% to $96.88 per barrel. This was also a week-to-week increase. Phil Flynn is a senior analyst at Price Futures Group. We're about to enter another weekend, where this could be over by Monday. We could also see that the war continues and...

France and?Italy opened talks with Iran on Friday to?negotiate a deal that would guarantee safe passage of?their vessels through?the Strait of?Hormuz. However, Italy denied this report. Since the U.S. began its strikes against Iran on February 28, shipping in the Gulf, and along the Strait of Hormuz - which carries a fifth of all the oil on the planet - has been at a standstill. Global oil prices have soared to levels not seen since the year 2022. The FT reported that France is one of the European nations engaged in talks with Tehran while Italy sought to contact the...

German Economy Minister Katherina Riese stated on Friday that she could see both sides of the United States' decision to issue a 30-day waiver for purchases of Russian oil products. Reiche said at a press conference that he felt the domestic political pressure was very high in the United States. She stated that she is concerned with filling the war coffers of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but that the situation in South Korea, and Japan, are tense. "We have thankfully been spared these shortages," said?Reiche. She said that attacks on ships in Strait of Hormuz continue, and the International Energy...

dsm firmenich, a European chemicals manufacturer, said on Thursday that it 'expects a slightly... higher adjusted core.profit margin % in 2026. It also said it is focusing on accelerating its growth for the next fiscal. The group stated that "macro-economic issues experienced in the second half 2025 continued into the first quarter of 2026. These include cautious consumer demand, and adverse FX effects." The group expects to achieve an adjusted earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), margin of 20%. This is slightly higher than the 19.6% reported by the company last year and beats?the same figure?expected in average...

U.S. crude oil futures dropped about 4% in early trading on 'Wednesday,' on the prospect that a possible ceasefire would ease?disruption of a global?oil supply. This was after reports that Washington sent Tehran a fifteen-point plan for ending the Middle East war. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI),?futures, dropped as low as $87.80 per barrel at the?open and were down $3.49 or 3.8% at $88.86 per barrel by 2305 GMT. WTI gained 4.8% on the Tuesday before paring its gains in volatile trading after settlement. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. is making progress in its...

U.S. president Donald Trump asked allies to help'secure the Strait of Hormuz' as Iranian forces 'continued attacks on this vital waterway during the U.S. and Israeli war against?Iran in its third week. Trump claimed that his administration has already reached out to seven countries but refused to name them. In an earlier post on social media, Trump said he hoped China would join the effort, as well as France, Japan and South Korea. Iran effectively closed the Strait between Iran and Oman. This narrow passage of water has cut off a fifth global oil supply, the largest disruption in history....

The U.S. Dollar was set to?gain a second weekly gain as investors moved?towards safer assets on Friday, as the Middle East war pushed investors towards safe-haven currencies. Energy-sensitive currencies like the euro and the yen fell to multi-month-lows. The economies of Japan and the euro zone, which heavily depend on crude imports would be severely affected by a sharp rise in oil prices. The economists are still wary about monetary tightening, as the dependence of these economies on fuel imports will likely lead to a rise in energy prices that could weigh on economic growth. The euro dropped to its...

U.S. Crude Futures increased more than 20% during early trading on Monday. They reached their highest level since July 2022, due to the escalating U.S. - Israeli 'war with iran. As of 2220 GMT, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up as much as $20.34 per barrel and were $14.83 or 16.31% higher at $105.73. The price of WTI crude futures rose by as much as $22.4%, to $111.24 in the early part of the session. The benchmark contract rose 12% on the Friday, and it has gained 36% in the last week. Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son...

The price of oil rose by more than $1 Wednesday, as the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran disrupted Middle East production and stopped exports from the region. Brent rose $1.11 or 1.4% to $82.53 per barrel after Tuesday's closing price at its highest level since January 2025. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude rose by 79 cents or 1.1% to $75.37 after closing at its highest level since June. Israeli and U.S. troops struck targets in Iran on Tuesday. This prompted Iranian strikes against the energy infrastructure of a region which accounts for less than a third global oil production....

The oil prices rose on Thursday, as investors hoped that U.S.-Iran negotiations could prevent a'military conflict which risks disruption of supply.' However, gains were limited by the buildup in U.S. ?crude inventories. Brent futures traded at $71.04 a barrel at 0415 GMT, an increase of 19 cents or 0.3%. WTI futures increased 15 cents or 0.2% to $65.57 a barrel. Brent rose Monday to its highest level since July 31, as Washington sent military forces to the Middle East in an effort to pressure Iran into negotiating a stop to its nuclear programme and ballistic missile program. Toshitaka Takawa, analyst...

The price of oil climbed Thursday as investors hoped that U.S. and Iranian talks would avert a conflict which could disrupt supply. However, gains were capped due to a 'build-up in U.S. crude stocks. Brent futures traded at $71.12 a barrel at 0123 GMT, up 27 cents or 0.3%. WTI futures increased by 23 cents or 0.4% to $65.65. Brent rose 8 cents Wednesday while WTI dropped 21 cents. Brent reached its highest level since July 31, and WTI also rose to the highest level since July 31. Both contracts have remained?near these levels, as Washington has deployed military forces...

Oil prices were flat on Monday, ahead of a meeting between Washington and Tehran. Concerns about Iran-U.S. relations disrupting oil shipments are keeping prices down, while OPEC+ is in favor of resuming production increases from April. Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $67.72 per barrel as of 0156 GMT, after ending Friday 23 cents higher. The price of U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was $62.86 per barrel, down by 3 cents. Due to a Monday holiday, there will be no WTI Settlement. Both benchmarks saw weekly declines last week. Brent settled down around 0.5% while WTI?lost about 1%....

The oil price was little changed Friday, after falling the previous session. It is set to fall for a second consecutive week, as concerns about an Iranian conflict, which could affect supply, have receded. Brent crude oil futures were up 3 cents or 0.04% at $67.55 per barrel at 0205 GMT, after dropping 2.7% the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 1 cent, or 0.02% to $62.85, after falling 2.8%. Brent prices will drop by 0.8% while WTI is expected to fall by 1.1%. Prices rose earlier in the week as investors worried that the U.S....

Investors worried about the escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. pushed up oil prices on Thursday morning. Brent crude oil futures were up 34 cents or 0.49% at $69.74 per barrel at 0126 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude climbed 37 cents or 0.57% to $65.00. Both benchmarks closed higher on Wednesday. Brent futures rose 0.87%, and WTI more than 1.05% as investor concerns about U.S. - Iran tensions overshadowed a rise in U.S. oil stocks. After talks with Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump stated that the two leaders had not reached a "definitive agreement" on how to...

Two sources said that a deal between Indian Oil Corp. and global trader Vitol, to form a joint venture for equal trading, has been delayed because of differences regarding certain clauses in the contract. Sources said that these?included the volume of IOC crude purchases that would come under joint venture control and the timing for an exit clause for a trader. IOC hoped to seal the deal with Vitol during the India Energy Week conference held last week. The country's largest refiner wanted the traders'?expertise and their global network in order to expand its presence on the international crude and...

The U.S. Transportation Department announced Friday that it will propose rolling back the fuel economy standards for?heavy duty pickup trucks and vans. This is part of a larger effort to undo strict vehicle standards established by former president Joe Biden. Biden's administration finalized in 2024 rules that required heavy-duty trucks and vans increase their fuel efficiency by 10% annually for model year 2030-2032, and 8% annually for model year 2033-2035. In a letter sent to automakers on Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that these rules were unrealistic and needed to be reset. The letter said that the...