Support
Breaking Data
Latest stock market data plus index, currencies, and commodities performance
US and Iran trade fire near Hormuz as fragile war-end talks come under strain
Fresh fighting between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz has put new pressure on already fragile efforts to turn a shaky ceasefire into a broader deal. Washington says its forces struck Iranian missile and drone positions after three US warships came under threat while moving through the strait, while President Donald Trump warned that any refusal to accept US terms could bring a much harsher military response.
US-Iran deal talks intensify as Trump looks for an exit from the war
The United States and Iran are weighing a new framework that could begin easing one of the most destabilizing conflicts in the Middle East, as President Donald Trump looks for a way to step back from a war that has driven up energy prices and started to hurt him politically at home. The proposal now on the table would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in stages and ease the US blockade on Iranian ports, while pushing the more difficult nuclear negotiations into a later phase.
Trump pauses Project Freedom as Washington tests opening for Iran deal
President Donald Trump has put a temporary hold on a US effort to help trapped ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, betting that a diplomatic opening with Iran may still produce a broader agreement to end the war. The pause marks a sharp tactical shift: Washington is easing back from one military step even as its blockade on vessels tied to Iranian ports remains fully in place.
Japan’s yen intervention likely topped $34 billion as authorities defend the 160 line
Japan likely spent about $34.5 billion in the market on Thursday to halt the yen’s slide, marking its first currency intervention since July 2024. The move appears to have been large, deliberate and politically significant, signaling that Tokyo still sees the 160-per-dollar area as a red line even under a new prime minister and finance minister.
BOJ holds rates in split vote
The Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged at 0.75%, but the decision looked more hawkish than a simple hold. A rare 6-3 split, a sharp upgrade to inflation forecasts and subtle changes in the policy statement all pointed to growing internal pressure for another move, leaving markets increasingly convinced that June is now the most likely window for the next rate hike.
The BoE felt the first impact of the Iran war as inflation rose to 3.3%
Inflation rose to 3.3% in March from 3.0% in February, according to official data showing the first impact on prices from the Iran war which the Bank of England worries could lead to a return of persistently high inflation.
Oil slips as war nears 50-day mark and Trump leans into ceasefire optimism
Oil prices eased as President Donald Trump adopted a more upbeat tone on the prospects for a permanent US-Iran ceasefire, offering markets a temporary reprieve after weeks of war-driven volatility. But while diplomacy is helping cool the panic premium, the crude market is still confronting a harsher reality: every delay in restoring normal flows through the Strait of Hormuz keeps supply tight and leaves the path ahead vulnerable to fresh disruption.
China reduces reliance on the US system
China’s steady accumulation of gold is no longer just about portfolio balance it increasingly reflects a strategic move to build protection outside the U.S.-dominated financial system. The People’s Bank of China has now bought gold for 17 consecutive months.
14 Apr 2026, 09:03
Hormuz blockade threat revives oil shock fears
President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has jolted markets back into worst-case mode, just days after ceasefire hopes briefly calmed energy prices. The move, if carried through, would sharply raise the risk of higher oil, slower growth and renewed inflation pressure across the global economy.
Gold under pressure from policy and inflation
Gold dropped 2% as US plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed weekend talks with Iran heightened concerns over a worsening global energy crisis. The restrictions will apply only to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.
13 Apr 2026, 09:15