Market Analysis 2 March 2026 - 5 March 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 raised its 2026 Brent crude forecast to $70 a barrel, citing risks from Middle East conflict and disrupted shipping. Brent traded at $83.84 early Thursday as trade through the Strait of Hormuz remained halted and Iraq cut output by 1.5 million barrels a day. War-risk insurance costs have surged five-fold. Goldman Sachs and UBS also lifted oil price forecasts, warning prices could top $100 if disruptions persist.
March 5, 2026
XRP price pops near $1.45 as bitcoin rallies — Trump crypto bill push in focus
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XRP price pops near $1.45 as bitcoin rallies — Trump crypto bill push in focus

XRP jumped 5.8% to $1.45 on Wednesday, tracking a broader crypto rally as bitcoin topped $73,000 and ether climbed to $2,151. Traders cited easing Middle East tensions and renewed U.S. crypto legislation efforts. Nearly $3.9 billion in XRP changed hands, with market value near $88 billion. Investors now await Friday’s U.S. jobs report and updates on the Clarity Act.
March 4, 2026
Natural gas price drops after Tuesday rally as traders eye EIA storage report, Cameron LNG restart
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Natural gas price drops after Tuesday rally as traders eye EIA storage report, Cameron LNG restart

U.S. April Henry Hub natural gas futures dropped 3.41% to $2.95/mmBtu by midday Wednesday, reversing part of Tuesday’s gains. Warmer U.S. weather forecasts and weaker LNG feedgas flows pressured prices despite ongoing Middle East risks. Leveraged gas ETFs BOIL fell 7.29% and KOLD rose 7.21%. Traders await Thursday’s U.S. storage report for the week ended Feb. 27.
March 4, 2026
Gold price today: Bullion rebounds after Tuesday rout as Iran war keeps haven bid alive
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Gold price today: Bullion rebounds after Tuesday rout as Iran war keeps haven bid alive

Gold rose 1.2% to $5,146.76 an ounce Wednesday, rebounding from Tuesday’s sharp drop as Middle East tensions and a weaker dollar spurred safe-haven demand. U.S. private payrolls beat forecasts, but traders remained cautious ahead of Friday’s jobs report. Gold-linked ETFs and miners traded mixed. Platinum is set for a fourth annual deficit in 2026, the World Platinum Investment Council said.
March 4, 2026
Rio Tinto stock slips in premarket as China policy countdown and new projects set the tone
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Rio Tinto stock slips in premarket as China policy countdown and new projects set the tone

Rio Tinto’s U.S. shares fell 0.4% to $94.90 in premarket trading after a 4.3% drop Tuesday, tracking weaker iron ore prices and investor caution amid rising oil. The miner won conditional Canadian government support for a gallium project and approved a $473 million restart at South Africa’s Zulti South mine. Traders await signals from China’s National People’s Congress opening March 5.
March 4, 2026
Lloyds share price slips again as oil shock dents UK rate-cut bets; buyback and Aegon talk in focus
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Lloyds share price slips again as oil shock dents UK rate-cut bets; buyback and Aegon talk in focus

Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 0.5% to 96.48p in early London trading Wednesday after closing down nearly 3% Tuesday. The drop follows a surge in oil and gas prices, which has rattled UK banks and pushed investors to scale back bets on Bank of England rate cuts. Lloyds bought back over 66 million shares this week and issued 220 million new shares for staff awards. The Bank of England’s next rate decision is set for March 19.
March 4, 2026
PLS share price slips again as China lithium futures hit near-limit drop — what investors watch next
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PLS share price slips again as China lithium futures hit near-limit drop — what investors watch next

PLS Group shares closed down 1.3% at A$4.74 in Sydney, extending a two-day drop of nearly 8% as lithium prices slumped. China’s lithium carbonate futures fell almost 13% after weak EV sales data. About 21.5 million PLS shares traded hands. Investors are watching China’s lithium market, oil prices, and rate expectations for direction ahead of PLS’s next quarterly report on April 16.
March 4, 2026
Citigroup stock whipsaws on Iran conflict jitters and Fed rate doubts — what investors watch next
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Citigroup stock whipsaws on Iran conflict jitters and Fed rate doubts — what investors watch next

Citigroup shares recovered after an early 4% drop Tuesday, closing nearly flat as investors reacted to Middle East tensions and the bank’s move to have some Gulf staff work from home. U.S. stocks fell broadly on higher energy prices and shifting rate expectations. Citi filed a pricing supplement for callable zero-coupon notes due 2038. Traders await Friday’s U.S. jobs report and the Federal Reserve’s March meeting.
March 3, 2026
Heating oil price today: ULSD futures jump 13% above $3 as Hormuz disruption squeezes diesel
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Heating oil price today: ULSD futures jump 13% above $3 as Hormuz disruption squeezes diesel

NY Harbor ULSD futures jumped 13.45% to $3.29 a gallon Tuesday as Middle East shipping disruptions tightened distillate supplies. Brent crude rose 7.8% to $83.81 a barrel, and U.S. diesel futures topped $3 for the first time since November. Tanker traffic slowed in the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on ships. President Trump was set to review U.S. policy options to address rising energy prices.
March 3, 2026
Natural gas price today jumps nearly 6% as Qatar LNG halt and Hormuz risks ripple through markets
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Natural gas price today jumps nearly 6% as Qatar LNG halt and Hormuz risks ripple through markets

U.S. April natural gas futures jumped 5.6% to $3.125 per mmBtu Tuesday as traders reacted to LNG supply disruptions and shipping risks from the Iran conflict. Qatar halted LNG output after strikes at Ras Laffan, and Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. European gas prices surged nearly 50% Monday. Market attention now shifts to Thursday’s U.S. storage data and temperature forecasts.
March 3, 2026
NIO stock slides in premarket even after 58% February delivery jump; earnings next week in focus
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NIO stock slides in premarket even after 58% February delivery jump; earnings next week in focus

NIO shares dropped 1.5% in premarket trading Tuesday after closing down 3.1% Monday. The company reported February deliveries up 58% year-on-year to 20,797 vehicles, but down 23% from January. NIO will release fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on March 10. Investors await guidance on margins and demand amid falling deliveries at other Chinese automakers.
March 3, 2026
SSE share price slides as Ofgem RIIO‑T3 decision hits tape amid utilities rout
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SSE share price slides as Ofgem RIIO‑T3 decision hits tape amid utilities rout

SSE shares fell about 4% in early London trading Tuesday, dropping to around 2,587 pence after its transmission arm accepted Ofgem’s RIIO-T3 final determination. The move follows weakness across European utilities as investors monitor interest rate expectations and rising energy prices. SSE’s full-year results are due May 28. Total voting rights stood at 1,212,167,907 as of March 2.
March 3, 2026
Unilever stock slides in London as oil spike rattles markets; April update in focus
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Unilever stock slides in London as oil spike rattles markets; April update in focus

Unilever shares fell 2% to 5,218p in early London trading Tuesday, tracking a broader selloff as oil and gas prices surged. Brent crude rose 2.3% to $79.50, while the STOXX 600 dropped 1.3% amid Middle East tensions. Unilever closed Monday down 2.58% at £53.26, underperforming the FTSE 100. Investors await Unilever’s April 30 trading statement for updates on pricing and volumes.
March 3, 2026
BP share price rises as Brent jumps above $80; traders watch Hormuz risk and OPEC+ next
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BP share price rises as Brent jumps above $80; traders watch Hormuz risk and OPEC+ next

BP shares rose 1.1% to 493.1 pence in early London trading Tuesday, following a 2.1% gain Monday as Brent crude climbed above $80 a barrel amid supply fears linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. OPEC+ agreed to a modest output increase, but analysts say Gulf shipping risks outweigh supply changes. BP paused its $750 million buyback in February after $4 billion in charges on renewables and biogas assets.
March 3, 2026
XRP Price Hit by $358 Million Liquidation Wave as Middle East Conflict Rattles Crypto
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XRP Price Hit by $358 Million Liquidation Wave as Middle East Conflict Rattles Crypto

About $358 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with XRP dropping from $1.40 to $1.34 before rebounding near $1.35, according to CoinGlass. Analysts cited widening U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, surging oil prices, and rate-cut bets as key drivers. XRP trading volume fell 36% to $2.72 billion. Bitcoin rose 4.6% to $68,706 as global stocks wobbled.
March 2, 2026
VIX Hits a Three-Month High as Iran Strikes Roil Wall Street and Oil Prices
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VIX Hits a Three-Month High as Iran Strikes Roil Wall Street and Oil Prices

The Cboe Volatility Index rose to 21.31 on Monday, hitting a three-month high after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a surge in oil prices and disruptions in Middle East energy flows. Brent crude jumped as much as 13% to $82.37 a barrel before easing. The S&P 500 was flat in late morning trading, while gold and the dollar gained as investors sought safety.
March 2, 2026
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