Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Asian Stocks End Strong Quarter as Dollar Surges, Yen Hits 40-Year Low Ahead of US Jobs Data 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Trump Suspends Some Morocco Fertilizer Tariffs to Ease U.S. Supply Shortage 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Jobs Data as Fed Rate Outlook, ECB, and Iran Talks Shape Forex Markets 
RBA Minutes Signal Australia Central Bank Remains Ready to Raise Interest Rates if Inflation Persists 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Global Financial Firms Shift Asia Expansion Focus to South Korea as China, India Face Caution 
Yen Falls to 40-Year Low as Markets Watch Japan Intervention and U.S. Jobs Report 
Asian equity markets closed out March 2026 on shaky ground, with most regional indexes posting significant monthly losses as the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran rattled investor confidence and disrupted energy markets. A sharp selloff in technology stocks compounded the damage across key markets.
South Korea's KOSPI was the region's worst performer in March, tumbling roughly 17% over the month and sliding 2.2% on Tuesday alone. The decline was driven by heavy selling in major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which faced growing uncertainty around long-term artificial intelligence chip demand. Despite the steep March retreat, the KOSPI remained approximately 21% higher for 2026 overall, reflecting the strong gains recorded earlier in the year.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and the broader TOPIX index followed closely behind, with monthly losses exceeding 9% and nearly 10%, respectively. Beyond the Iran conflict, Japanese markets were also weighed down by expectations of further interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan. India's Nifty 50 shed over 9% in March, reflecting the country's vulnerability to disruptions in oil imports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese markets declined moderately despite encouraging economic data. The CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite each fell less than 1% on Tuesday, and both were headed for monthly losses of 6% to 7%. Positive manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI figures for March offered little relief to investors focused on broader geopolitical risks. Australia's ASX 200 dropped around 7% in March following an interest rate increase from the Reserve Bank of Australia, while Singapore's Straits Times index was a relative bright spot, losing just 1.6%.
Sentiment across the region remained cautious, though U.S. futures rallied over 1% on reports that President Trump may consider ending the Iran conflict without a push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping lane for Asian energy supplies.
