Month: March 2026
U.S. gasoline hits $4 per gallon, highest since 2022, as Iran war drives up fuel prices
U.S. gasoline prices have surged above $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, as the oil supply shock triggered by the Middle East war rapidly drives up costs for families. Prices at the pump hit a nationwide average of $4.018, the highest level since August 2022 when Russia’s war against […]
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South Korea proposes extra $17 billion budget to cushion energy costs fueled by Iran war
Workers install solar power infrastructure at a public parking lot within the National Assembly grounds in Yeouido, Seoul, on March 26, 2026. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images South Korea on Tuesday proposed a supplementary budget worth 26.2 trillion won (about $17.1 billion) to ease the burden of rising energy prices on households and industries […]
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Three niche commodity prices are surging. What they show about China’s grip on supply chains
Almonty’s tungsten mine in Sangdong, South Korea, in March 2026. Almonty BEIJING — The Iran war is squeezing a global commodities market already pressured by China’s export controls and stockpiling efforts. Prices of three niche elements — tungsten, sulfur and helium — have climbed sharply in recent weeks. While none of the commodities are traded […]
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Oil prices reverse course to fall as traders assess Trump comments on Iran war
A general view of the Port of Kharg Island Oil Terminal, 25 km from the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, in Iran on March 12, 2017. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Oil prices reversed course to drop in early Asia trading as traders assess […]
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Indian mobile giant Airtel raises $1 billion for data centers from Carlyle, other PE firms
A Bharti Airtel office building pictured in Gurugram, on the outskirts of New Delhi. Pacific Press | Lightrocket | Getty Images India’s telecom giant Bharti Airtel has raised $1 billion for its data center arm — Nxtra Data — from private equity firms Alpha Wave, Carlyle and Anchorage Capital, underscoring a growing global interest in […]
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CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter: China’s AI race enters a new phase
A robot band from LinkerBot performs at a robot 6S store on Jan. 29, 2026 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images Hi, this is Evelyn, writing to you from Beijing. Welcome to the latest edition of The China Connection — a succinct snapshot of what I’m seeing […]
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China’s factory activity returns to growth, expanding at its sharpest pace in a year
LIANYUNGANG, CHINA – FEBRUARY 28: Employees produce stuffed toys for export at a toy factory on February 28, 2026 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China. Si Wei | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s official gauge for manufacturing activity climbed more than expected in March to mark its best performance in a year and snapping […]
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Pete Hegseth’s broker attempted to make defense investments before Iran war: Financial Times
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026. Evan Vucci | Reuters A broker for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to make a large investment in […]
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Asia-Pacific markets fall as Iran war keeps investors jittery, oil extends gains
A view of missile traces launched from Yemen at Israel sighted in the sky over Hebron, West Bank, on March 28, 2026. Wisam Hashlamoun | Anadolu | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened lower Tuesday as the conflict in the Middle East keeps investors jittery, with crude oil prices continuing to rise. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his […]
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Evercore ISI predicts ‘inflection point’ is days away, plans to commit capital if S&P 500 drops to this level
A week of “maximum uncertainty” should deliver a key opportunity for investors, according to Evercore ISI’s Julian Emanuel. “We’re getting towards an inflection point where we would want to commit capital here,” the firm’s managing director said Monday on CNBC’s ” Fast Money .” Emanuel pinpoints next Monday, April 6, the day President Donald Trump […]
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