Asian Markets Mixed as Oil Volatility and Inflation Fears Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Rebound as Dollar Weakens, BOJ Holds Rates 
Iran-Israel War Escalates: Energy Infrastructure Attacks Shake Global Oil Markets 
Australian PM Albanese Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid al-Fitr Prayers 
Yen Slides Near Two-Year Low as Fed Holds Rates Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Wall Street Retreats on Oil Volatility and Fed Rate Outlook 
U.S. Futures Dip as Fed Hawkishness and Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S. Eyes Iranian Supply Relief Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Stabilize but Head for Worst Weekly Drop in Six Years Amid Iran War Inflation Fears 
Asian Markets Tumble as BOJ Holds Rates, Oil Surges Past $110 
Dollar Weakens as Middle East War Reshapes Global Rate Expectations 
China Holds Lending Rates Steady Amid Global Oil Price Surge and Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
Russia Calls for Ceasefire in Gulf Conflict, Offers Diplomatic Mediation 
Fed Holds Rates Steady as Middle East Conflict Clouds Inflation Outlook 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Middle East Uncertainty 
A new wave of Israeli military strikes hit Tehran on Friday, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against targeting Iranian energy infrastructure. The move signals a deepening rift between Washington and Tel Aviv over war strategy, even as both nations remain jointly engaged in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The broader Israel-Iran war, which erupted on February 28 following the collapse of nuclear deal negotiations, has now claimed thousands of lives, destabilized neighboring countries, and sent shockwaves through the global economy. Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates all reported missile attacks in the early hours of Friday, continuing a pattern of Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf energy assets.
Energy markets have been severely disrupted. Iran struck Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City — responsible for processing approximately one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas — causing damage that experts say could take three to five years to repair. QatarEnergy's CEO confirmed the attack wiped out roughly one-sixth of Qatar's LNG export capacity, valued at $20 billion annually. Saudi Arabia's key Red Sea port was also hit Thursday.
Oil prices initially surged but eased Friday after major economies including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, and Japan pledged support for securing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for about 20 percent of global oil supply.
Trump, facing domestic political pressure over rising fuel costs ahead of November's midterm elections, stated he had told Netanyahu not to attack energy infrastructure again — a directive Netanyahu later acknowledged but seemed to have disregarded.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard highlighted the strategic disconnect, noting that Israeli and American war objectives in the Iran conflict remain fundamentally misaligned.
