Economics 3 March 2026 - 7 March 2026

Reynolds Consumer Products Faces Key Cost Issue at Start of June
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Reynolds Consumer Products Faces Key Cost Issue at Start of June

Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. is set to open Monday at $21.67, after sliding 1.95% on Friday. That loss capped a short Memorial Day week where the stock ended down about 0.6% from the previous Friday’s close. With not much in the way of new company news, the setup is now in focus. The main thing for investors is whether they reward Reynolds for a strong Q1 or keep the pressure on the stock as June gets underway with aluminum and resin costs still up.
June 1, 2026
Last Week on Euronext: CAC 40, AEX and BEL 20 End Lower as Oil Shock Hits Europe
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Last Week on Euronext: CAC 40, AEX and BEL 20 End Lower as Oil Shock Hits Europe

Euronext’s top indexes finished the week ended March 6 in the red, part of a broader European rout that marked the region’s sharpest downturn in nearly a year. Concerns over the conflict in the Middle East sent oil prices climbing and clouded hopes for imminent rate cuts. According to Euronext, the CAC 40 settled at 7,993.49, down 0.65% for the session. The AEX dropped 1.52% to close at 980.34, while the BEL 20 slipped 1.24% to 5,194.95. Higher costs for oil and liquefied natural gas, both mostly brought in from abroad, continue to weigh on the euro zone—growth and inflation can take a hit at the same time. Euronext, with its reach across Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and
March 7, 2026
Last Week on the NASDAQ Stock Market: Oil Shock, Weak Jobs Data Knock Tech Stocks Lower
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Last Week on the NASDAQ Stock Market: Oil Shock, Weak Jobs Data Knock Tech Stocks Lower

NEW YORK, March 7, 2026, 1:00 AM EST The Nasdaq Composite closed last week in the red, dragged lower by a sharp selloff Friday after an oil shock stemming from the Middle East conflict and a surprise dip in U.S. payrolls. Growth stocks took the brunt of the hit. For the week, the tech-focused index shed 1.24% to finish at 22,387.68, slipping 1.59% on Friday alone. The S&P 500 dropped 2.02% over the week, while the Dow ended down 3.01%.
March 7, 2026
Hong Kong stocks slid last week — here’s what moved HKEX, IPOs and the Hang Seng
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Hong Kong stocks slid last week — here’s what moved HKEX, IPOs and the Hang Seng

The Hang Seng Index wrapped up Friday at 25,757.29, but that wasn’t enough to erase earlier declines. Hong Kong shares dropped 3.3% over the week after a steep selloff midweek. That carries consequences for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing—the bourse operator known as HKEX—since both trading activity and new listings dictate its fee income. According to February’s market highlights, average daily turnover landed at HK$246.8 billion. IPO fundraising over the first two months of 2026 reached HK$89.2 billion.
March 7, 2026
BHP Group Ltd Faces Wider China Iron Ore Curbs as Contract Standoff Deepens
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BHP Group Ltd Faces Wider China Iron Ore Curbs as Contract Standoff Deepens

China Mineral Resources Group, the government-backed iron ore buyer, has stepped up its restrictions on new seaborne shipments from BHP Group Ltd, broadening a contract standoff that’s dragged on for months and now hits some of BHP’s mainstays. The curbs extend to Mac fines, Newman fines, and Newman lumps—core iron ore grades for steelmakers. BHP declined to comment, while CMRG didn’t immediately respond to Reuters’ request. This round of talks carries weight: the agreement at stake accounts for most of BHP’s northwest Australia production and supplies about 20% of China’s iron ore demand. The timing is notable, too—BHP’s latest numbers show copper edged past iron ore in first-half operating earnings, but iron ore still brought in $7.50 billion.
March 6, 2026
Oil prices jump on Iran war as Hormuz logjam lifts Brent above $84, WTI near $79
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Oil prices jump on Iran war as Hormuz logjam lifts Brent above $84, WTI near $79

Oil prices surged over 3% on Thursday, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran snarled Middle East supply lines and shipping routes. Brent crude, the global benchmark, advanced $2.92, or 3.6%, to $84.32 a barrel at 11:43 a.m. EST. U.S. West Texas Intermediate shot up $4.40, or 5.9%, landing at $79.06. “Crude prices are going to be very sensitive to the Strait’s closure,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. For a fifth straight day, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill, blocking a crucial artery for Middle Eastern oil and gas. Iraq has already pulled nearly 1.5 million barrels per day from the market, warning that almost 3 million bpd could go offline
March 5, 2026
Standard Chartered raises 2026 Brent forecast as Hormuz shock keeps oil above $80
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Standard Chartered raises 2026 Brent forecast as Hormuz shock keeps oil above $80

Standard Chartered PLC bumped up its Brent crude outlook for 2026, flagging upside risk if Middle East tensions take a bigger toll on supply or shipping lines. The bank now expects Brent to hit $74 a barrel in the first quarter of 2026, up from $62. For the second quarter, the projection moves to $67 from $63. The 2026 average climbs to $70 a barrel from the earlier $63.50 call. According to Standard Chartered, the forward curve—futures prices across the strip—has strengthened as markets take another look at tight spare capacity and possible bottlenecks, including the Strait of Hormuz. The move hits as volatility continues. Brent climbed $2.44, or 3%, to $83.84 a barrel by 0722 GMT on Thursday, chalking
March 5, 2026
Wesfarmers shares slip as Australia spending data flags cautious shoppers
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Wesfarmers shares slip as Australia spending data flags cautious shoppers

Wesfarmers Limited ended Thursday’s session at A$75.57, slipping 0.66%. Another reminder for investors: Australian consumers remain careful with discretionary purchases. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures put household spending at A$78.98 billion for January, a lift for the month. But year-on-year growth edged down to 4.6%, after posting 5% in December. “Consumers tightened their belts at the start of 2026,” Oxford Economics Australia economist Harry McAuley noted.
March 5, 2026
Dollar back in favor as Iran war jolts energy prices and flips euro bets
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Dollar back in favor as Iran war jolts energy prices and flips euro bets

This week, the U.S. dollar stuck close to its latest peaks. The Iran war sent energy prices sharply higher, prompting investors to shell out for euro downside protection. The pivot is catching up to markets now. For most of 2026, traders had loaded up on the opposite side—expecting a weaker dollar and brighter prospects overseas. Instead, the conflict upended those trades, rattling inflation forecasts in Europe and sending investors scrambling to trim positions in a hurry.
March 5, 2026
Gold price today rebounds above $5,100 as Iran war keeps safe-haven demand alive
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Gold price today rebounds above $5,100 as Iran war keeps safe-haven demand alive

Gold prices jumped Wednesday, lifted by heightened tension in the Middle East and a pause in the dollar’s climb. Spot gold gained 0.7%, reaching $5,120.71 an ounce as of 1831 GMT. U.S. gold futures for April edged up 0.2% to settle at $5,134.70. Silver rose 1.3% to $83.07, while both platinum and palladium moved higher as well. “The dollar has seen a pullback, which is providing some support,” noted Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals. Traders stayed on edge, despite the brief rebound. Gold had spiked in late January, hitting a record $5,594.82, but sharp swings since then have left the market wary, Robert Gottlieb, previously head of precious metals at Koch Supply and Trading,
March 4, 2026
Wall Street snaps back: Nasdaq leads as Iran diplomacy talk cools oil fears
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Wall Street snaps back: Nasdaq leads as Iran diplomacy talk cools oil fears

Stocks bounced back Wednesday, lifted after Iran indicated it might be open to talks and the White House detailed measures to cushion the oil market—relieving inflation worries that rattled investors just a day before. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.29%, with the S&P 500 up 0.78% and the Dow gaining 0.49%, preliminary figures show. “That combination is giving the market some optimism,” said Jim Awad of Clearstead Advisors. Still, Richard Bernstein at Richard Bernstein Advisors noted a protracted conflict “could mean more volatility.” https://www.reuters.com/business/wall-street-futures-slip-middle-east-conflict-oil-driven-inflation-concerns-2026-03-04/ The rebound is significant as investors weigh whether war-fueled energy price swings could keep the Federal Reserve in a restrictive stance longer than expected, even while some economic indicators soften. Bond traders have delayed their bets on
March 4, 2026
Silver price today rebounds after Tuesday selloff as dollar eases, U.S. jobs data ahead
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Silver price today rebounds after Tuesday selloff as dollar eases, U.S. jobs data ahead

New York, March 4, 2026, 12:54 — Regular session Silver snapped back Wednesday, recovering part of the sharp drop from the previous session as the U.S. dollar slipped and ongoing Middle East tensions kept safe-haven interest alive. Spot silver jumped 2% to $83.69 an ounce at 1628 GMT. “The dollar has seen a pullback,” said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals, who also flagged continued volatility as a risk.
March 4, 2026
Bitcoin price jumps back above $73,000 as ETF inflows return and Iran war headlines drive swings
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Bitcoin price jumps back above $73,000 as ETF inflows return and Iran war headlines drive swings

New York, March 4, 2026, 12:53 EST — Regular session Bitcoin jumped past $73,000 on Wednesday, gaining around 7% for the session as traders dove back into risk following a rocky bout of volatility. The cryptocurrency was last at $73,294, up $4,958, or 7.3%, from its previous close, after a session that saw moves between $67,501 and $73,669. Ether also caught a bid, advancing roughly 8.5% to $2,151.
March 4, 2026
Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets
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Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets

Shares in South Korea tumbled 12% Wednesday—marking their sharpest one-day fall on record—as the Iran conflict escalated and oil prices rose, rattling economies reliant on energy imports and prompting investors to slash risk. This selloff hasn't stayed in just one part of the market. Traders are shifting focus—less on headline moves, more on a stubborn wave of oil-fueled inflation that threatens to keep borrowing costs elevated for an extended stretch.
March 4, 2026
Oil prices surge 8% as Strait of Hormuz disruption deepens; Brent tops $83
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Oil prices surge 8% as Strait of Hormuz disruption deepens; Brent tops $83

New York, March 3, 2026, 13:29 EST — Regular session Oil shot up roughly 8% Tuesday, with Brent climbing to levels not seen since July 2024, as the U.S.-Israel air campaign against Iran threw fuel shipments into disarray and stoked worries over a drawn-out fight. By 10:35 a.m. EST, Brent had rallied $6.07, or 7.8%, to $83.81 a barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate jumped $6, up 8.4%, settling at $77.23. Both benchmarks are now showing overbought signals after the rally. Andrew Lipow, a consultant, noted that any further attacks on key infrastructure in the region could tack on another $10 to prices, putting Brent in striking distance of $90.
March 3, 2026
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