Economy 9 March 2026 - 2 April 2026

Huntington Bancshares Heads Higher Into June With Jobs Report Ahead
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Huntington Bancshares Heads Higher Into June With Jobs Report Ahead

Huntington Bancshares surged on Friday, closing out the week with a strong move higher. The stock led regional banks, helped by heavier trading volume as investors shrugged off a slow news stretch going into the weekend. Shares of the Columbus, Ohio-based lender ended Friday at $16.36, up 1.49% for a second day of gains. Volume hit 40.5 million shares, well above the 50-day average of about 22.0 million. The S&P 500 rose 0.22%. The Dow advanced 0.72%.
May 31, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Fuel Shock Is Hitting Wallets as RBA Rate Risks Build
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Fuel Shock Is Hitting Wallets as RBA Rate Risks Build

Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported Thursday that its weekly card data up to March 27 reveals a notable jump in fuel spending, with the Middle East conflict sending petrol and diesel prices higher—though total household spending barely budged. “Higher fuel prices were the most immediate transmission channel” from the conflict to Australia’s economy, said Belinda Allen, the bank’s head of Australian economics. CBA’s card flow data lands early, giving a glimpse into consumer behavior just after the Reserve Bank of Australia delivered its quarter-point hike to 4.1% in March—passed narrowly, 5-4. Traders are factoring in about a 60% probability of another move in May. On Thursday, the Albanese government fast-tracked A$6.15 billion in concessional capital, targeting businesses disrupted by global
April 2, 2026
Prudential plc fixes $13.83 scrip dividend price as 2026 buyback rolls on
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Prudential plc fixes $13.83 scrip dividend price as 2026 buyback rolls on

Prudential plc set the reference price at which shareholders can take new shares instead of cash for its 2025 second interim dividend at $13.834482 per ordinary share on Thursday. In a separate filing, the Asia-focused insurer said it had also repurchased 351,297 shares on April 1, continuing its 2026 buyback. The update matters because Prudential has leaned harder on capital returns after stronger 2025 growth, telling investors in March it expected to return more than $7 billion over 2024-2027. It also reported a 12% rise in annual new business profit at the time.
April 2, 2026
BHP Group Ltd shares jump 5% as China PMI surprise lifts miners (Reuters)
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BHP Group Ltd shares jump 5% as China PMI surprise lifts miners (Reuters)

BHP Group’s U.S. shares rallied 5.4% to $72.74 on Tuesday. Rio Tinto climbed roughly 5%. The gains came as fresh Chinese factory numbers—an official PMI reading—showed the fastest expansion in a year for March, boosting sentiment for the mining giants. This comes with BHP just weeks out from its April 22 operational review, which will cover the nine months ending March 31. That scheduled production update drops as investors hunt for more clarity around demand in the miner’s key iron ore and copper segments.
March 31, 2026
UK Diesel Hits £100 a Tank as Iran War Pushes Fuel Price Gap to 23-Year High
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UK Diesel Hits £100 a Tank as Iran War Pushes Fuel Price Gap to 23-Year High

Diesel at UK pumps climbed to an average of 182.77 pence per litre on Tuesday, sending the price for a standard 55-litre fill-up to £100.52—a level not seen since December 2022. Petrol, meanwhile, came in at 152.83 pence. “The diesel tank threshold has breached £100,” said Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, adding that petrol prices could “potentially stabilise” if oil prices quit rising. It’s not just about fuel. Worldpanel reported grocery inflation stuck at 4.3% for the four weeks ending March 22, pointing out that every extra point tacks on more than £50 to the average household’s yearly bill. Fraser McKevitt flagged that higher fuel prices are leaving shoppers increasingly uneasy.
March 31, 2026
National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less
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National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less

National Australia Bank flagged on Monday that Australian households are facing their highest cost-of-living stress in more than ten years. Its Consumer Stress Index—a measure tracking pressures related to jobs, health, retirement, expenses, and policy—hit 59.1 for the March quarter. The cost-of-living element surged to 71.8, a level not seen since 2014, as households cut back, hunted for cheaper deals, and delayed major purchases. The reading comes just as borrowers are digesting the Reserve Bank of Australia’s March 17 move to bump the cash rate up 25 basis points to 4.10%. Following suit, NAB has raised variable home-loan rates by the same margin as of March 27. The timing is crucial for banks, with bigger repayments now meeting a notable
March 31, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure

London shares are looking at a shortened week, oil prices still steering sentiment. On Friday, the FTSE 100 edged down 0.05%, while the FTSE 250 dropped 1.5%. Both indexes are staring at hefty monthly declines as concerns linger over a protracted Middle East crisis. The stakes for Britain are clear. With energy prices still elevated, the country sits in a riskier spot than others: the OECD now projects just 0.7% growth for the UK in 2026, and bumps up its inflation outlook to 4.0%. Markets, which once expected Bank of England rate cuts, have shifted to pricing in several hikes this year.
March 29, 2026
Asda warns of temporary petrol pump shortages as UK fuel prices break 150p amid Iran war
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Asda warns of temporary petrol pump shortages as UK fuel prices break 150p amid Iran war

Asda warned on Friday that some of its UK petrol pumps were facing temporary shortages after motorists rushed to fill up and average petrol prices climbed above 150 pence a litre for the first time in nearly two years. The supermarket said the strain reflected a jump in demand as the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel rattled oil markets. The timing matters. The warning comes just ahead of the Easter getaway, and Asda runs about 800 fuel stations, making it Britain’s second-largest road-fuel retailer after Tesco. RAC data showed average unleaded at 150.11 pence a litre and diesel at 177.68 pence, raising the odds of more local outages if drivers keep topping up early.
March 27, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Holds Near 93p as FCA Motor Finance Update Looms
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Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Holds Near 93p as FCA Motor Finance Update Looms

Lloyds Banking Group shares held near 92.68 pence in London on Tuesday, as investors sized up a fresh date for Britain’s motor-finance compensation plan and another shaky session for bank stocks. The Financial Conduct Authority said it would spell out its approach on March 30, after markets close. The timing matters. The FCA’s redress plan — compensation for customers who were not properly told about commissions on car loans — has been one of the biggest overhangs for a small group of lenders, and Reuters has reported both that the watchdog put the bill near 11 billion pounds last year and that Lloyds is among the banks with material exposure.
March 24, 2026
Kenya Fuel Shortage Deepens as Nairobi Pumps Run Dry, Dealers Warn of Supply Halt
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Kenya Fuel Shortage Deepens as Nairobi Pumps Run Dry, Dealers Warn of Supply Halt

Petrol shortages in Nairobi intensified Tuesday, leaving stations across the city bone dry. Lines snaked out from the handful of pumps still serving customers, while no-fuel notices went up at many more. Officials maintained there was enough supply nationwide, but dealers cautioned that the crunch might soon reach areas outside the capital. Timing is crucial here: Kenya depends on imported refined fuel, its fortunes tied to Gulf supply routes. Right now, conflict in the Middle East has already upended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a waterway that moves roughly a fifth of the world's oil and LNG. In Kenya, even a brief supply squeeze can show up fast in bus fares, freight charges, and the price of food.
March 24, 2026
AI Could Lift Europe’s Productivity by More Than 4% in 10 Years, ECB Says
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AI Could Lift Europe’s Productivity by More Than 4% in 10 Years, ECB Says

Artificial intelligence has the potential to push euro-zone productivity up by over 4 percentage points within the next ten years, assuming adoption continues at a rapid pace, according to ECB chief economist Philip Lane on Monday. Lane also cautioned that a drawn-out energy shock might dampen those benefits. The near-term picture in Europe just got gloomier. Last week, ECB staff slashed their 2026 growth projection to 0.9% and bumped up their inflation forecast, citing higher energy costs from the Middle East conflict. Euro-zone consumer confidence? Down again this month, now at its weakest since late 2023.
March 23, 2026
UK Fuel Prices: Diesel Could Hit £2 a Litre Within Weeks as Oil Surge Reignites Fuel Duty Fight
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UK Fuel Prices: Diesel Could Hit £2 a Litre Within Weeks as Oil Surge Reignites Fuel Duty Fight

Traders sounded the alarm Friday: British diesel might break through the £2 per litre mark in a matter of weeks, with Brent crude holding above $110 following new Middle East attacks. The move is ramping up pressure on ministers. It’s not just pump prices in the spotlight. Diesel powers vans, trucks, and tractors—so any spike can ripple into freight costs, consumer prices, and inflation. The Bank of England on Thursday signaled it’s prepared to respond if energy prices, driven by conflict, threaten its 2% inflation target.
March 20, 2026
UK Petrol Prices Jump Again as Iran Conflict Opens a 49p Gap Between M1 Pumps and London’s Cheapest Stations
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UK Petrol Prices Jump Again as Iran Conflict Opens a 49p Gap Between M1 Pumps and London’s Cheapest Stations

UK petrol prices ticked higher on Tuesday, with almost 49 pence a litre separating the most expensive motorway stop on the M1 from the lowest price posted at a London forecourt. Crude held above $100 a barrel, underpinned by supply worries tied to the conflict. RAC figures put average unleaded at 142.29p per litre, diesel at 162.06p. Spot checks from the Guardian and Secret London found prices ranging from 172.9p on the M1 to as low as 123.9p in Camden. Right now, the spread is hard to ignore. Motorists are feeling the squeeze from both ends: national average prices keep climbing, and the gap between local stations has gotten wide enough to make picking your route pay. The timing isn’t
March 17, 2026
Nigeria Freeze on Petrol Imports Leaves Dangote With 92% of Supply, Fueling Monopoly Fears
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Nigeria Freeze on Petrol Imports Leaves Dangote With 92% of Supply, Fueling Monopoly Fears

For the second month running, Nigeria hasn’t issued any new petrol import permits, effectively clearing the way for Aliko Dangote’s refinery to tighten its grip on the fuel market. According to NMDPRA figures, Dangote delivered 36.5 million litres per day in February, while imports averaged a mere 3 million litres—enough for the refinery to control roughly 92% of Nigeria’s new domestic supply. The clash over imports is suddenly hitting drivers at the pump, with crude markets and freight rates still rattled by Middle East conflict. It’s a sharp turn from last year, when Dangote took the policy dispute to court before eventually backing out. Gone, too, is the long-standing regulatory line that imports were necessary to preserve competition.
March 12, 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 dipped into negative territory for the first time in nearly a year, with National Australia Bank’s monthly survey showing sentiment at -1 in February. Despite the drop in confidence, conditions stayed unchanged at +7 and sales ticked higher. Shares slid after the Reserve Bank of Australia bumped its cash rate up by 25 basis points—a quarter point—bringing the main policy rate to 3.85% as of Feb. 3. The timing is tight, coming just ahead of the RBA’s March 16-17 gathering. Governor Michele Bullock last week called March a “live meeting,” keeping investors alert.
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 on Tuesday reported its internal wage growth figure held steady at 3.1% for the year to February, while jobs growth remained in positive territory. The bank said this combination could offer the Reserve Bank some reassurance ahead of next week’s policy decision. Its own labour data showed around 21,000 new jobs were added in February. By comparison, Australia’s official jobless rate stood at 4.1% in January. The update arrives just a week out from the Reserve Bank’s March 16-17 meeting, following February’s hike that pushed the cash rate to 3.85%. Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser flagged a “genuine” debate on the prospect of another rise, with markets now assigning about a 50% probability to a move on
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

Australia's competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, is scrutinising fuel prices and supply practices after diesel hit 259.9 Australian cents a litre near Dubbo and prices moved above A$2.50 in some areas as Middle East disruption rippled through the market. The regulator has asked fuel companies what reserves they hold and what they are charging. The surge matters because it is moving quickly beyond motorists and into farm, freight and food costs. NAB senior economist Taylor Nugent said inflation would "peak above 5 per cent in Q2" unless fuel benchmarks retreated, while a Victorian orchardist told ABC he faced an extra A$10,000-A$20,000 a week for diesel that he could not easily pass on.
March 10, 2026
California Gas Prices Hit $5.20 as Iran War Sends Oil Toward $120
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California Gas Prices Hit $5.20 as Iran War Sends Oil Toward $120

On Monday, regular gas in California averaged $5.204 a gallon, according to AAA, as surging crude prices after the Iran war drove a bigger divide with the national average. For the U.S. overall, drivers paid $3.478 per gallon. Oil’s spike to nearly $119 a barrel on Monday — a level not seen since mid-2022 — has prompted Washington and G7 leaders to weigh emergency measures aimed at calming energy markets. Traders, according to IG’s Tony Sycamore, aren’t seeing a clear exit from the conflict. That keeps supply concerns front and center.
March 9, 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 flagship natural gas contract surged close to 30% in early trading Monday, briefly spiking just below 70 euros per megawatt hour before retreating. Traders moved to price in expectations of a longer outage in Qatar, alongside drawn-out shipping snarls in the Strait of Hormuz. By mid-morning, the Dutch TTF April contract—the region’s key wholesale benchmark—had slipped back toward 60 euros/MWh. Why does it matter? Europe faces its storage refill season with inventories running light, plus a legal mandate to get sites up to 90% by November. Right now, EU storage sits at roughly 30%—about 9 points under last year’s mark. Brussels, for its part, has flagged high prices as a drag on injections, though officials don’t see an immediate
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

Oil surged past $100 a barrel on Monday, hitting levels not seen since 2022. Benchmark Brent crude climbed as high as $119.50, as the Iran war squeezed Gulf shipping lanes and triggered new production cuts. The sharp move rattled traders, governments, and central banks. This shift is significant: oil isn’t just trading on war premiums now. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva flagged that a sustained 10% jump in oil prices—if it holds up for most of the year—might tack on roughly 0.4 percentage point to global inflation.
March 9, 2026
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