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EV demand is getting a boost from the Iran war — just as auto giants pivot back to combustion engines
An electric vehicle (EV) is left to charge at a charging station in Tehran on February 23, 2026. Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty Images The sprawling Middle East crisis is expected to spur drivers to abandon traditional internal combustion engine vehicles in favor of EVs, analysts told CNBC, although early evidence suggests this will […]
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Iran sets up ‘toll booth’ in Strait of Hormuz, as oil tankers detour via Larak Island for safe passage
While choking off most traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has quietly established a de facto safe-shipping corridor north of Larak Island, as Tehran seeks to monetize its grip on the world’s most important oil shipping artery. Traffic through the strait has fallen by 90% since the war began on Feb 28, with Iran […]
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Inside India newsletter: The worst might not be over for Indian equities
Hello, this is Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to the latest edition of “Inside India“ — your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world’s fastest growing large economy. Indian markets have been rattled by the Iran war, with foreign investors fleeing and valuations slipping to rare lows. But fund managers […]
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Large Japanese companies are more optimistic despite Iran conflict, but analysts say this may not last
The Shibuya pedestrian intersection in Tokyo, Japan. Marco Bottigelli | Moment | Getty Images Large Japanese manufacturers indicated their highest level of business optimism in over four years, despite uncertainties brought about from the Iran war. That’s according to the Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan survey, a closely-watched poll that measures business sentiment among domestic […]
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Oil extends gains after record monthly rally as Trump signals Iran war exit amid energy disruptions
Smoke emanates from smokestacks from an oil refinery in Linden, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images Crude prices extended gains during Asia trading as escalating attacks in the Persian Gulf and U.S. President Donald Trump’s signals on exiting the Iran conflict even as the Strait of Hormuz remains […]
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Asia-Pacific markets set to rebound as Trump comments raise hopes of Iran war ending in weeks
IBARAKI, JAPAN – JUNE 17: Technicians at work in the clean room of the Fab Equipment at a semiconductor company, Renesas Technology Corp. on June 17, 2004 in Ibaraki, Japan. Renesas is the first company to produce semiconductor products from 300mm wafer in the world. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) Koichi Kamoshida | Getty Images […]
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Why $4 a gallon gas prices won’t trigger Fed interest rate hikes — and could lead to cuts
Gas prices are displayed at a Mobil gas station on March 30, 2026 in Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images Gasoline prices over $4 a gallon, part of an ongoing supply shock in the energy markets, might seem like a cue for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to head off inflation. At […]
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