Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
South Korea Remains MSCI Emerging Market Despite Reform Progress 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Micron Earnings 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Bessent Says U.S. Must Strengthen Supply Chains and Economic Security 
Asian stock markets fell sharply on Monday as investors braced for a prolonged Gulf conflict that has sent oil prices surging to their highest monthly gains in decades, raising serious concerns about global inflation and a potential recession.
Reports emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump had floated the idea of seizing Iran's Kharg Island — a critical oil export hub — though he also suggested a ceasefire could happen soon. Meanwhile, Pakistan announced plans to host peace talks in the coming days, while Iran accused Washington of preparing a ground assault as additional U.S. troops moved into the region. Yemen's Houthi forces, aligned with Tehran, also launched fresh attacks on Israel, further escalating tensions.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered dramatic price increases across energy and commodity markets. Oil, natural gas, fertilizers, plastics, and aluminum have all spiked, with ripple effects expected across food, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemical industries. Brent crude climbed 3% to $115.98 per barrel, marking a staggering 60% monthly gain — surpassing the surge that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Asia is bearing the brunt of the turmoil given the region's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy. Japan's Nikkei dropped 4.7%, accumulating nearly 14% in losses for March. South Korea's market fell 4.2%, and the broader Asia-Pacific index declined 1.2%. European and U.S. futures also pointed lower.
JPMorgan economists warned that if the Strait remains closed for another month, oil prices could climb toward $150 per barrel, severely straining industrial energy consumers worldwide.
On the monetary policy front, expectations have shifted dramatically. Markets now anticipate the Federal Reserve will tighten rates by 12 basis points this year, a sharp reversal from forecasts of 50 basis points in cuts just weeks ago. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar have both strengthened, while gold edged lower despite the volatile environment.
