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9 March 2026
Monday
Global Markets Turn Volatile as Middle East War Drives Oil Surge and Safe-Haven Dollar Demand.
Global financial markets experienced significant turbulence last week as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered widespread risk aversion. Coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran led to retaliatory threats, particularly targeting vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that carries around 20% of global oil supply. As shipping activity slowed due to security and insurance concerns, crude oil prices surged sharply. Brent crude rose to about $92.69 per barrel, while WTI crude climbed above $90 per barrel, marking their highest levels since late 2023. The sharp rise in energy prices fueled global inflation concerns and pushed investors toward safe-haven assets, strengthening the U.S. dollar and putting pressure on global equity markets.
In India, financial markets came under notable pressure amid the global turmoil. The Indian rupee weakened sharply to a record low of 92.3050 per dollar, while domestic equities declined about 2.9% during the week as foreign investors reduced their exposure to risk assets. The surge in crude oil prices poses a significant challenge for India given its heavy dependence on imported energy. Nearly half of India’s crude imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the economy particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions. A sustained 25% rise in oil prices could increase India’s import bill by approximately $15 billion, widen the current account deficit by about 0.3% of GDP, raise inflation by roughly 0.7%, and reduce GDP growth by around 0.2 percentage points. Higher oil prices could also weaken the rupee further, increase fiscal pressures, and potentially delay monetary easing by the Reserve Bank of India.
The U.S. dollar strengthened broadly during the week, with the Dollar Index rising about 1.4% to close near 98.99 as investors sought safety amid geopolitical uncertainty. U.S. financial markets reflected the mixed economic environment. Equity markets remained under pressure, while Treasury yields rose about 20 basis points as investors pushed back expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts due to inflation risks from higher energy prices. Although the United States is now a small net exporter of oil, limiting the direct economic impact of rising energy prices, recent economic data has been mixed. Nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly declined by 92,000 in February, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, suggesting some softening in labour market conditions. However, business activity remained relatively resilient, supported by strong services sector growth and improving manufacturing activity.
In Europe, economic data indicated gradual stabilization despite external risks. The Eurozone services sector continued to expand moderately, while manufacturing returned to expansion territory for the first time since mid-2022, supported by stronger production and new orders. Nevertheless, consumer demand remained weak and rising energy costs are beginning to add new inflationary pressures. The European Central Bank has signalled a cautious policy stance as it evaluates the impact of higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty. In the United Kingdom, economic data remained relatively steady, with the services sector continuing to expand and housing prices showing modest growth. However, the pound remained largely range-bound against the stronger U.S. dollar amid global risk aversion and uncertainty surrounding the future policy path of the Bank of England.
Looking ahead, global financial markets are likely to remain volatile as geopolitical developments in the Middle East continue to dominate investor sentiment. The ongoing disruption around the Strait of Hormuz remains a key risk for global energy markets, and further escalation could lead to additional supply shortages and higher oil prices. Investors will closely monitor reports from the International Energy Agency and OPEC for insights into potential supply adjustments. At the same time, several key economic data releases, including U.S. inflation indicators, price data from major emerging economies, household spending in Japan, and industrial production figures in Europe, will shape expectations for global monetary policy and currency movements in the coming week.
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The weekly roundup report will provide detailed insights on the current and future trends in currencies and related commodities like gold and oil. Additionally, it will outline the trend and trading opportunities in the week ahead.
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Their CEO, Jamal Mecklai, is an authority on all matters market and has been appointed to RBI committees to recommend measures on the local foreign exchange markets and managing commodity risk. He is also consultant to the World Gold Council and the Forwards Markets Commission and a frequent contributor to the media, both print and electronic.
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