Economics 20 March 2026 - 1 April 2026

Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%

Westpac expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise the cash rate three more times this year, reaching 4.85% by August, citing inflation from Middle East fuel disruptions. The bank’s customers began paying higher mortgage rates from March 31 after Westpac passed on the RBA’s last increase. Peers NAB and ANZ forecast fewer hikes. Markets remain cautious, with traders pricing in a lower chance of further rises.
April 1, 2026
UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound
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UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound

UK house prices rose 0.9% in March, the biggest monthly gain since December 2024, according to Nationwide, lifting the average to £277,186. Mortgage rates jumped, with average two- and five-year fixes above 5.3%, and buyer enquiries in March fell 13% from a year earlier, Zoopla said. Regional price growth varied sharply, with Northern Ireland up 9.5% and East Anglia down.
April 1, 2026
Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge
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Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge

Airlines in Europe and Asia raised fares and cut capacity as jet fuel prices surged following the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index hit $4.62 a gallon, with Brent crude at $115.50. Korean Air will enter emergency mode in April, and Cathay Pacific imposed an $800 fuel surcharge on Sydney-London returns. Brussels urged governments to delay refinery maintenance to ease supply pressure.
March 31, 2026
Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens
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Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens

Shell warned Australia that a proposed windfall tax on LNG exporters would deter investment and threaten energy security, as surging prices boost industry profits. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked Treasury to model the tax and possible changes to the PRRT. Shell and Chevron executives criticized the plan at a Sydney conference. Asia spot LNG prices have doubled since February, and Australia exported A$65 billion of LNG last year.
March 31, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation

Westpac now expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its cash rate three more times this year, peaking at 4.85%, the highest since 2008, citing war-driven fuel costs. The bank forecasts headline inflation at 5.4% in the June quarter despite a temporary fuel excise cut. Westpac shares fell 4.05% Monday as markets reacted. The bank also delayed any rate cut expectations to 2028.
March 30, 2026
Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens
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Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens

The Dow rose 324 points by midday Monday but remained in correction, with Brent crude near $113 as Middle East fighting widened and oil surged 60% in March. U.S. and European bond markets showed signs of stress, and Morgan Stanley cut its global equities outlook to neutral. President Trump warned Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also stayed well below recent highs.
March 30, 2026
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 30.03.2026
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UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 30.03.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: March 30, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: March 30, 2026, 11:57 PM EDT Bounty Oil & Gas Proposes Multi-Step Recapitalisation Plan Including $4 Million Raise March 30, 2026, 11:57 PM EDT. Bounty Oil & Gas N.L. (ASX:BUY) announced a multi-step recapitalisation plan featuring convertible notes issuance and a $4 million placement. The plan aims to tackle working capital needs and reduce short-term liabilities by converting $200,000 of debt into equity, with a 30-for-1 consolidation of securities. Convertible notes worth AUD 39,000 and loan notes totaling AUD 260,000 form part of the restructuring. Shareholder approval is required at a
March 30, 2026
No More Pennies? Georgia and Washington Move on Penny Rounding as Rare Buffalo Nickel Error Surfaces
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No More Pennies? Georgia and Washington Move on Penny Rounding as Rare Buffalo Nickel Error Surfaces

Georgia’s Senate passed a bill March 25 to require rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel, following Washington, where a similar law takes effect June 11. The moves come after the last U.S. penny was struck in November 2025. About two dozen states have introduced rounding bills. A federal measure has cleared committee but awaits a House vote.
March 28, 2026
National Australia Bank Stock Price Slides to One-Month Low as Job Cuts, Higher Rates Bite
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National Australia Bank Stock Price Slides to One-Month Low as Job Cuts, Higher Rates Bite

National Australia Bank shares closed at A$41.99 on Friday, down 1.34% and hitting a one-month low. The bank’s 0.25 percentage-point increase in variable home loan rates took effect the same day. NAB has proposed 447 redundancies and 277 new onshore roles, implying a net loss of about 170 jobs in Australia, plus 237 new offshore roles, according to the Finance Sector Union.
March 27, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Stock Price: CBA Holds at A$173 as Hike Hits Borrowers, Inflation Risk Rises
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Stock Price: CBA Holds at A$173 as Hike Hits Borrowers, Inflation Risk Rises

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares traded at A$173.63 late Friday after the bank warned an oil shock could push inflation to 5.4% by mid-2026, raising expectations of another Reserve Bank rate hike. CBA lifted variable home-loan rates by 25 basis points on March 27, following the RBA’s March 17 increase. The bank posted record first-half cash net profit of A$5.45 billion in February.
March 27, 2026
Dow Enters Correction as Iran War Sends Oil Above $110 and Drags Wall Street to Six-Month Lows
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Dow Enters Correction as Iran War Sends Oil Above $110 and Drags Wall Street to Six-Month Lows

U.S. stocks closed at six-month lows Friday, with the Dow and Nasdaq both entering correction territory as investors braced for a prolonged Iran war. The S&P 500 fell 1.7%, the Nasdaq dropped 2.1%, and the Dow slid 1.75%. Oil prices surged, with Brent crude up 53% since late February. Consumer sentiment dropped to 53.3 in March, while inflation expectations and gasoline prices climbed.
March 27, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Slides as Oil Jumps and OECD Cuts Britain Growth View
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Slides as Oil Jumps and OECD Cuts Britain Growth View

London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.3% to 9,972.17 on Thursday as oil prices surged and hopes for Middle East peace faded. The OECD cut its UK growth forecast for 2026 to 0.7% and raised its inflation outlook to 4.0%. 3i Group dropped 18% after a cautious sales outlook, while Next rose 6.4% on higher profit guidance. Consumer confidence slumped, with retail sales dropping at the fastest pace since April 2020.
March 26, 2026
Australia Inflation Warning: Fuel Shock Could Push Prices Past 5% as Canberra Rules Out Rationing
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Australia Inflation Warning: Fuel Shock Could Push Prices Past 5% as Canberra Rules Out Rationing

Australia is not planning fuel rationing despite rising inflation risks from the Middle East oil shock, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. The government replaced six delayed fuel shipments and eased diesel standards to boost supply. Local shortages persist, with several hundred stations missing at least one grade. Annual inflation slowed to 3.7% in February, but economists warn the new oil shock could push it to 5%.
March 26, 2026
Fed’s Goolsbee Says Rate Hikes Back on Table as Iran War Clouds Cuts
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Fed’s Goolsbee Says Rate Hikes Back on Table as Iran War Clouds Cuts

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said Monday the U.S. central bank could cut or raise rates this year, depending on inflation and fallout from the Iran conflict. Oil prices and rate hike odds swung sharply after Trump paused strikes on Iran, but volatility resumed as Iran denied talks. Goolsbee, not a 2024 voter, stressed inflation risks from higher gasoline. The Fed next meets April 28-29.
March 24, 2026
Dow Jumps 631 Points, Oil Falls Below $100 as Trump’s Iran Talk Claim Revives Wall Street’s TACO Trade
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Dow Jumps 631 Points, Oil Falls Below $100 as Trump’s Iran Talk Claim Revives Wall Street’s TACO Trade

The Dow Jones closed up 631 points Monday and Brent crude fell below $100 after President Trump announced a five-day delay in strikes on Iran, citing “productive” talks. Tehran denied any negotiations, calling Trump’s claim “fake news.” European and U.S. stocks rallied, while oil majors fell. Investors cited relief over a possible pause in conflict near the Strait of Hormuz.
March 23, 2026
Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: ASX 200 Braces for CPI Test as Oil Shock Deepens
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Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: ASX 200 Braces for CPI Test as Oil Shock Deepens

The S&P/ASX 200 closed Friday at 8,428.4 as Brent crude hit $112.19 a barrel, its highest since July 2022. Rio Tinto shut two Queensland bauxite mines due to Cyclone Narelle, sending its stock down as much as 4%. Australia faces fuel supply strain after six Asian shipments were cancelled, leaving 38 days of petrol in stock. The February CPI lands Wednesday, days after the RBA raised rates to 4.1%.
March 22, 2026
BHP Stock Price Falls as CEO Bounce Fades, China Iron Ore Risks Linger
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BHP Stock Price Falls as CEO Bounce Fades, China Iron Ore Risks Linger

BHP Group’s U.S. shares fell 3.09% to $65.29 on Friday, erasing gains made after Brandon Craig was named CEO. Investors remain cautious as copper now accounts for over half of BHP’s operating earnings, and questions persist over leadership diversity and strategy. Iron ore demand from China remains weak, while diesel supply concerns add cost risks. Craig will assume the role on July 1.
March 22, 2026
Wall Street Tumbles, Bond Yields Jump as Iran War Sends Oil Above $112 and Turns Fed Cut Hopes Into Hike Bets
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Wall Street Tumbles, Bond Yields Jump as Iran War Sends Oil Above $112 and Turns Fed Cut Hopes Into Hike Bets

The S&P 500 fell 1.49% Friday, the Nasdaq lost 1.98%, and the Dow dropped 0.92% as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran showed no sign of ending, pushing oil prices to a two-year high. Bond yields jumped, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury at 4.386% and Britain’s 10-year above 5%. Brent crude settled at $112.19 a barrel after Iraq declared force majeure and Strait of Hormuz traffic remained disrupted.
March 20, 2026
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