Good news: Oil traders are betting the Iran war will end soon. The bad news: They also bet the economic damage from the war could last for years. Crude has soared above $110 a barrel, making $4-a-gallon gas and $5.40 diesel a painful reality in the United States. But when we say “crude is trading … Read more
If OpenAI is going to float this year, it must sink in its business model. The wow factor surrounding the American company – the poster child of the boom in the AI industry that has sparked fears of the stock market – has been established for a long time, but when will the profits come? … Read more
Until now in 2026, the S&P 500 index (^ GSPC +2.57%) it’s down about 7%, but the ride has suffered more, as a series of events has hampered the market’s comeback. Whether it’s the war in Iran and the volatile oil prices that followed, persistent tariffs and inflationary pressures, a weakened consumer base in the … Read more
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has a message for young Americans looking for work in a tough job market: Don’t be discouraged, even though job creation remains weak and the threat of artificial intelligence remains. The chairman of the Fed, who gave comments on Monday to an undergraduate economics class at Harvard University, talked a … Read more
My top 10 things to watch on Monday, March 30 1. The S & P 500 is headed for a higher open as President Donald Trump signals progress in the US-Iran war talks. Rarely since the conflict began. Stocks are high, and oil is high. Usually, high oil prices drive stocks lower. The problem, as … Read more
Since the start of the war, trading in the futures markets has been difficult and, at times, chaotic. In terms of their absolute size, the trades that took place immediately before Trump’s announcement last Monday were not out of the public domain. But the number of transactions was unusually large for the time of day: … Read more
The price of oil rose sharply to $ 116 a barrel after Donald Trump said he wanted to “take oil from Iran”, sending Asian markets to fall. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 2% in early trade on Monday, after Trump said he may seize Iran’s offshore Kharg Island facility. Trump told the Financial … Read more
Market makers are reluctant to take risks as the Middle East war rages Liquidity crunch increases market volatility, wild price swings Increasingly, merchants are struggling to find willing customers LONDON/NEW YORK/SINGAPORE, March 30 (Reuters) – The Iran war has sent jitters across financial markets, leaving some investors and market makers reluctant to take risks, making … Read more
Odd things happen in markets. Last Monday, 15 minutes before Donald Trump announced that “productive talks” with Iran had taken place, oil traders placed bets of half a billion dollars on the future price of oil. Trump’s announcement caused crude oil prices to fall, and it seems that some people knew the announcement was coming, … Read more
LAUNCESTON, Australia, March 30 (Reuters) – A month after the US and Israel attacked Iran, the global market for the supply of crude oil, refined products and liquefied natural gas is now at its second worst. Everything depends on the Strait of Hormuz. This chokepoint, which typically accounts for 20% of the world’s crude, products … Read more