Oil traders place $580 million bets before Trump Iran post
Trump’s comments on talks with Iran eased oil’s fear premium tied to the Strait of Hormuz, even as Tehran denied direct negotiations.
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Japan core CPI slows to 1.6% as BOJ weighs rate hikes
The BOJ plans a new summer indicator to strip out one-off policy effects as it weighs hikes amid weak yen, higher oil prices and subsidy-driven CPI swings.
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Trump touts Iran talks as oil traders watch the Strait of Hormuz
Even as Trump talked diplomacy with Iran, the Pentagon moved forces into position and traders kept pricing Hormuz risk.
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CFOs plan for $100 oil as Hormuz closure persists
Executives and traders see about a 2-week window to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before oil jumps again and companies plan for months of disruption.
3 min read
Goldman Sachs lifts 2026 Brent forecast to $85 on Hormuz disruption
Goldman Sachs raised its 2026 Brent forecast to $85 and warned oil could hit $135 a barrel if constrained flows and production losses persist.
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Premier Li Qiang vows balanced trade after China logs $1.2 trillion surplus
Beijing promised more balanced trade and stronger protections for multinationals as FDI fell 5.7% in January and scrutiny grew in Washington and Brussels.
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Trump’s Iran deadline triggers 5% drops in Nikkei and Kospi
Investors sold Asian stocks after Trump warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours, raising fears of strikes on Gulf energy and water systems.
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China pledges balanced trade amid $1.2 trillion surplus
China pledged stepped-up measures to ease trade imbalances while exports surge and foreign investment lags.
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China Premier Li Qiang pledges national treatment for foreign firms
Li Qiang called China a “cornerstone of certainty” as it posts a record $1.2T trade surplus that raises the odds of tariffs, probes and de-risking.
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Iran war pushes oil above $100 as Europe gas prices double
Greece’s central bank cut its 2026 growth forecast to 1.9% and raised its inflation outlook to 3.1% as higher oil and gas prices hit forecasts.
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Iran restricts Strait of Hormuz passage for "enemy-linked" ships
Iran told the U.N. maritime agency Hormuz stays open except for “enemy-linked” ships, and it said vessels must coordinate security arrangements with Tehran to pass.
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Tehran rebuffs diplomatic off-ramp in Iran war’s fourth week
Regional officials call the Strait of Hormuz Tehran’s key leverage, letting Iran raise global economic costs even after heavy losses in the U.S.-Israel conflict.
1 min read