Middle East Affairs 27 February 2026 - 3 March 2026

HSBC Holdings Shares Surge as Iran Ceasefire Eases Gulf Fears Ahead of Earnings
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HSBC Holdings Shares Surge as Iran Ceasefire Eases Gulf Fears Ahead of Earnings

Shares of HSBC Holdings surged 6.6% to finish at HK$138.60 in Hong Kong trading Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a two-week ceasefire with Iran. That move trimmed concerns about the bank’s exposure to the Middle East and sent oil prices sliding beneath $100 a barrel. This shift is significant: HSBC has spent months pitching investors on the idea that stronger connections between Asia and the Gulf would drive its next growth chapter. That narrative took a hit when the Iran war broke out, putting trade through the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil flows—at risk. Banks with larger operations in the region, including HSBC, have come under pressure.
April 8, 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
BAE Systems share price dips after 52-week high as Middle East war keeps investors jumpy
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BAE Systems share price dips after 52-week high as Middle East war keeps investors jumpy

London, March 3, 2026, 08:32 GMT — Regular session Shares of BAE Systems plc slipped 0.85% to 2,222 pence by 0816 GMT in early London trading on Tuesday, as investors stepped back after Monday’s sharp run-up in defence stocks. The FTSE 100 group, which carries a market cap near £65 billion, ended Monday at 2,241 pence, having touched a 52-week high of 2,288 pence during the session.
March 3, 2026