Economy 28 February 2026 - 10 March 2026

National Australia Bank Survey Shows Australian Business Confidence Turns Negative After RBA Hike
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National Australia Bank Survey Shows Australian Business Confidence Turns Negative After RBA Hike

Australian business confidence fell to -1 in February, its first negative reading in 11 months, according to NAB’s monthly survey, while business conditions stayed at +7 and sales rose. The decline followed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Feb. 3 rate hike to 3.85%. NAB’s first-quarter cash earnings climbed 16% to A$2.02 billion as business banking volumes increased. Inflation pressures persisted, with purchase and labour costs up 1.5% for the quarter.
March 10, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Wage Growth Held at 3.1% Ahead of RBA Rate Call
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Wage Growth Held at 3.1% Ahead of RBA Rate Call

Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported internal wage growth steady at 3.1% for the year to February and about 21,000 jobs added last month. The Reserve Bank meets March 16-17, with markets pricing a 50% chance of another rate hike after February’s increase to 3.85%. Major banks have already passed on higher rates to home-loan customers. CBA’s data shows stable wages despite a tight labor market.
March 10, 2026
Australia Fuel Prices Spike as ACCC Checks Gouging and Reserve Claims Unravel
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Australia Fuel Prices Spike as ACCC Checks Gouging and Reserve Claims Unravel

Diesel prices in parts of Australia have surged past A$2.50 a litre, with some stations near Dubbo hitting 259.9 cents, as Middle East tensions disrupt supply. The ACCC is investigating pricing and supply practices, warning fuel companies against misleading explanations. United Petroleum has begun rationing deliveries, and some wholesalers are restricting sales. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Australia has 34 days of diesel in reserve.
March 10, 2026
Natural Gas Price Today: Europe Gas Jumps Near 70 Euros as Qatar Outage Deepens Supply Fears
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Natural Gas Price Today: Europe Gas Jumps Near 70 Euros as Qatar Outage Deepens Supply Fears

Europe’s benchmark natural gas price surged nearly 30% early Monday, reaching just under 70 euros/MWh before settling near 60, after a prolonged outage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility and shipping delays in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude climbed to $119.50 a barrel. European gas storage is about 30% full, well below last year’s level. Asian buyers are also seeking spot LNG cargoes as supply tightens.
March 9, 2026
Oil Tops $100 for First Time Since 2022 as Iran War Cuts Supply, G7 Weighs Reserve Release
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Oil Tops $100 for First Time Since 2022 as Iran War Cuts Supply, G7 Weighs Reserve Release

Brent crude surged to $119.50 a barrel Monday as the Iran war disrupted Gulf oil flows, forcing Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait to cut output and leaving tankers stranded at the Strait of Hormuz. Central banks shifted rate expectations amid inflation fears. Governments considered releasing emergency reserves. Airline shares dropped as jet fuel prices soared.
March 9, 2026
Singapore Exchange Last Week: STI Falls 2.9% as Middle East Oil Shock Hits Airlines
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Singapore Exchange Last Week: STI Falls 2.9% as Middle East Oil Shock Hits Airlines

Singapore’s Straits Times Index closed Friday up 1.69 points at 4,848.25 but ended the week down 2.9%, pressured by surging oil prices linked to Middle East conflict. ST Engineering gained 9.8% over the week, while Jardine Matheson fell 8.5% and Singapore Airlines dropped 7.4%. Brent crude settled at $85.41 a barrel. Trading volume reached S$2.1 billion, with more gainers than losers.
March 7, 2026
Deutsche Börse Weekly Wrap: DAX Posts Worst Week in a Year as Oil Shock Hits Frankfurt
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Deutsche Börse Weekly Wrap: DAX Posts Worst Week in a Year as Oil Shock Hits Frankfurt

Germany’s DAX index fell 6.7% this week to 23,591.03, its worst weekly drop in a year, as energy prices surged and U.S. jobs data disappointed. Beiersdorf and Adidas shares slumped after profit warnings, while Siemens Energy dropped 6%. Rheinmetall announced plans to expand missile production amid Middle East tensions. STOXX said there will be no changes to the DAX or TecDAX in March.
March 7, 2026
Ampol Limited Faces Fresh Scrutiny as ACCC Warns on Petrol Pricing, EG Australia Decision Nears
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Ampol Limited Faces Fresh Scrutiny as ACCC Warns on Petrol Pricing, EG Australia Decision Nears

Ampol’s proposed takeover of EG Australia faces continued ACCC scrutiny as fuel prices surge amid Middle East tensions. Brent crude jumped 16.4% for the week, and the ACCC warned it may act if companies mislead consumers. Queensland retailers raised prices sharply, prompting an RACQ referral. The ACCC’s final decision on the merger is due by June 5.
March 6, 2026
Mineral Resources share price slips after CSI record update runs into oil shock, rate-hike jitters
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Mineral Resources share price slips after CSI record update runs into oil shock, rate-hike jitters

Mineral Resources shares closed 0.6% lower at A$55.71 in Sydney after trading between A$54.83 and A$57.56. The company reported record first-half volumes and a 29% jump in Mining Services EBITDA to $488 million. The stock remains volatile, having dropped 6.1% in the previous session. Investors are watching oil prices and rate expectations ahead of the RBA’s March meeting.
March 4, 2026
India stock market today: Holi shuts NSE/BSE, oil shock keeps Nifty and Sensex on edge
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India stock market today: Holi shuts NSE/BSE, oil shock keeps Nifty and Sensex on edge

India’s stock markets were closed Tuesday for Holi after the Nifty 50 and Sensex fell sharply Monday on surging oil prices tied to Middle East conflict. The rupee slid 0.5% to 91.47 per dollar, its weakest in a month, as the Reserve Bank of India likely intervened. Bond yields are expected to stay volatile; February services PMI data is due Wednesday. Indian firms cut gas supplies after Qatar halted LNG production.
March 3, 2026
Dow Jones today: Dow slides more than 800 points as Strait of Hormuz fears jolt oil and rate-cut bets
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Dow Jones today: Dow slides more than 800 points as Strait of Hormuz fears jolt oil and rate-cut bets

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.7% Tuesday morning as oil prices surged 8% following Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude hit $83.81 a barrel, raising inflation fears and dampening expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Travel and materials stocks fell, while Target rose and MongoDB plunged 27% after weak guidance. Blackstone shares also declined on rising fund outflows.
March 3, 2026
Heating Oil price surges to two-year high as Hormuz disruption hits diesel supply
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Heating Oil price surges to two-year high as Hormuz disruption hits diesel supply

NYMEX heating oil futures surged nearly 14% to a two-year high Monday after Middle East strikes and retaliation disrupted shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. About 150 ships were stranded and at least three vessels struck, according to Reuters. Diesel outpaced crude gains, with front-month ULSD up 36 cents at $2.9561 a gallon. Traders await Wednesday’s U.S. fuel inventory report.
March 2, 2026
BSE Sensex weekly drop after 961-point Friday fall: GDP, oil and IT jitters to drive Monday trade
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BSE Sensex weekly drop after 961-point Friday fall: GDP, oil and IT jitters to drive Monday trade

The Sensex fell 1.84% last week to 81,287.19, with autos and financials leading declines as foreign investors sold 34.66 billion rupees of equities Thursday. India’s GDP grew 7.8% in October-December, slowing from the previous quarter, and the rupee posted its first monthly gain since April 2025. Brent crude closed at $72.48 a barrel, with Barclays warning of a possible rise if U.S.-Iran tensions escalate.
February 28, 2026
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