Dow Jones Top Markets Headlines at 7 PM ET: Oil Rebounds Above $100 on Fears Middle East Conflict Lacks Exit Plan | Global ...

ForkLibertarian · 2026-03-25T04:26:22+00:00

Oil prices have rebounded above $100 due to fears of a prolonged Middle East conflict. Global business activity is slowing alongside rising energy prices, while software stocks plummet amidst AI disruption concerns. Central banks, including the UK and New Zealand, are preparing for economic challenges related to inflation and geopolitical instability.

ForkLibertarian

2026-03-25 04:26:22

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Oil Rebounds Above $100 on Fears Middle East Conflict Lacks Exit Plan

News of a U.S. troop deployment pulled stocks lower, even after President Trump signaled peace talks with Iran were progressing.

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Global Business Activity Slows as Iran War Weighs

The war has driven up energy prices and uncertainty, while a cooling of new orders points to longer-lasting harm if the conflict continues or escalates.

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Software stocks fall as fear of AI disruption is back in full force

A new release from Anthropic’s AI agent Claude has revived fears that software will no longer be needed to complete certain tasks.

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U.K. Will Stick to Budget Rules In Tackling Energy Crisis, Treasury Chief Says

Treasury chief Rachel Reeves said the U.K. government is planning for every contingency, and would not repeat the mistakes of 2022 and 2023.

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NYSE Partners With Securitize to Develop 24/7 Tokenized Securities Platform

Under the exchange’s plan, stocks would trade as digital tokens.

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BOE Should Be Prepared to Act Despite Uncertainty, Says Pill

The Bank of England should not allow uncertainty to delay efforts to contain a rise in inflation as energy prices surge in the aftermath of the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, Chief Economist Huw Pill said Tuesday.

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EU and Australia Sign Free-Trade Agreement, Security Deal

The European Union and Australia agreed to a free-trade deal and security partnership, the latest move by U.S. allies to rethink their economic and military relationships at a time of rapidly growing geopolitical uncertainty.

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Japan Consumer Inflation Rises at Slower Pace

Japan’s consumer prices rose at a slower pace in February, potentially affording the central bank more time to consider raising rates further amid heightened geopolitical risks.

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Big Banks Are Playing Both Sides of the Private-Credit Meltdown

Private-credit funds’ exposure to software has come back to bite them, presenting new risks and opportunities for banks.

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President Backs Off Threat to Iranian Energy

Trump says talks to end war are making progress, but Tehran expresses skepticism.

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RBNZ Signals Rate Hikes Possible If Inflation Threats Linger

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has indicated it could raise interest rates if the surge in oil prices related to the Iran war drags on, threatening a sustained rise in inflation.

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Bank of Canada to Lose Two Members of Rate-Setting Governing Council

Rhys Mendes and Sharon Kozicki are departing as deputy governors of the seven-member governing council.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 24, 2026 19:15 ET (23:15 GMT)

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