The Shibuya pedestrian intersection in Tokyo, Japan. Marco Bottigelli | Moment | Getty Images Large Japanese manufacturers indicated their highest level of business optimism in over four years, despite uncertainties brought about from the Iran war. That’s according to the Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan survey, a closely-watched poll that measures business sentiment among domestic…
Smoke emanates from smokestacks from an oil refinery in Linden, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images Crude prices extended gains during Asia trading as escalating attacks in the Persian Gulf and U.S. President Donald Trump‘s signals on exiting the Iran conflict even as the Strait of Hormuz remains…
IBARAKI, JAPAN – JUNE 17: Technicians at work in the clean room of the Fab Equipment at a semiconductor company, Renesas Technology Corp. on June 17, 2004 in Ibaraki, Japan. Renesas is the first company to produce semiconductor products from 300mm wafer in the world. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) Koichi Kamoshida | Getty Images…
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 27, 2026. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump has warned the U.K. and France that the “U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore,” as he vented his frustration over the close allies’…
Natural gas burners on a gas stove are seen in Rzeszow, Poland, on December 28, 2025. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Inflation in the euro zone jumped to 2.5% in March, according to the latest preliminary figures from Eurostat on Tuesday. Euro zone inflation was up from 1.9% in February and jumped well ahead…
Workers install solar power infrastructure at a public parking lot within the National Assembly grounds in Yeouido, Seoul, on March 26, 2026. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images South Korea on Tuesday proposed a supplementary budget worth 26.2 trillion won (about $17.1 billion) to ease the burden of rising energy prices on households and industries…
Almonty’s tungsten mine in Sangdong, South Korea, in March 2026. Almonty BEIJING — The Iran war is squeezing a global commodities market already pressured by China’s export controls and stockpiling efforts. Prices of three niche elements — tungsten, sulfur and helium — have climbed sharply in recent weeks. While none of the commodities are traded…
A general view of the Port of Kharg Island Oil Terminal, 25 km from the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, in Iran on March 12, 2017. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Oil prices reversed course to drop in early Asia trading as traders assess…
LIANYUNGANG, CHINA – FEBRUARY 28: Employees produce stuffed toys for export at a toy factory on February 28, 2026 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China. Si Wei | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s official gauge for manufacturing activity climbed more than expected in March to mark its best performance in a year and snapping…
A view of missile traces launched from Yemen at Israel sighted in the sky over Hebron, West Bank, on March 28, 2026. Wisam Hashlamoun | Anadolu | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened lower Tuesday as the conflict in the Middle East keeps investors jittery, with crude oil prices continuing to rise. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his…
