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Real-time financial news from around the world.
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Agricultural Commodities Updates: Wheat Rises by 1.64%
Top commodity gainers are Wheat (1.64%), Sugar (0.79%) and Corn (0.59%). Biggest loser is Rice (-0.56%).
United Kingdom
UK Gilt Yields Surge to 2008 Highs on Inflation Fears
UK 10-year gilt yields rose to 5%, nearing levels last seen in 2008, as stalled US-Iran negotiations and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz heightened inflation concerns and strengthened expectations of a tighter Bank of England policy. The geopolitical tensions have added pressure on markets, with Brent crude trading above $111 per barrel after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to delay nuclear talks until the conflict and shipping disputes are resolved. Domestically, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a critical vote on whether to launch an investigation into his assurances that due process was followed in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The scrutiny comes as the Bank of England prepares for its Thursday meeting, where policymakers are expected to hold rates steady amid the Middle East crisis. However, markets continue to price in at least two quarter-point rate hikes for 2026.
Metals Commodities Updates: Silver Drops by 3.25%
Top commodity losers are Silver (-3.25%), Platinum (-2.51%) and Gold (-1.37%).
United Kingdom
Pound Steady as US-Iran Talks Stall
The pound held near $1.35 as the US-Iran impasse continues and domestic political pressures weigh on markets. Tensions intensified after a US official revealed President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal, which sought to delay nuclear program negotiations until the ongoing conflict and shipping disputes are resolved. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a pivotal vote on Tuesday over whether to investigate his assurances to Parliament regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. While Starmer’s allies remain confident of securing the vote, the controversy risks overshadowing next week’s crucial local elections. Investors are also focused on the Bank of England’s policy decision on Thursday, with the central bank widely expected to hold interest rates at 3.75% amid the Middle East crisis. Analysts anticipate a near-unanimous or strong majority vote to maintain the current stance.
Energy Commodities Updates: Brent Crude Oil Rises by 2.79%
Top commodity gainers are Brent Crude Oil (2.79%), Crude Oil WTI (2.69%) and Gasoline (1.41%). Biggest loser is Natural gas (-0.50%).
Germany
DAX Extends Losses
Frankfurt's DAX 40 fell 0.4% to below 24,000 on Tuesday, the seventh consecutive session of losses, as traders continued to weigh the lack of progress in US–Iran negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, along with rising oil prices. US President Trump and his national security team are reportedly skeptical of Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and postpone discussions on its nuclear activities. Investors also focused on corporate earnings and upcoming major central bank decisions later this week. Qiagen NV was the biggest laggard, down over 6% on weaker Q1 results and reduced full-year 2026 guidance. Bayer fell as much as 6.5% as the US Supreme Court appeared divided in its handling of the glyphosate litigation. Henkel fell 2.2% as the stock traded ex-dividend today. On the upside, RWE gained 1.5% after Barclays reiterated a Buy rating, while Deutsche Börse rose 0.7% after reporting an 11% increase in Q1 net profit and confirming its 2026 guidance.
New Zealand
New Zealand Dollar Snaps 2-day Gain
The New Zealand dollar fell to $0.588, snapping a two-day winning streak, amid reports that President Trump was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal, dampening hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal includes reopening the strait in exchange for the US lifting its blockade on Iranian ports, while talks over Tehran’s nuclear program would be deferred to a later stage. Traders also await the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, where the bank is widely anticipated to leave interest rates unchanged. On the domestic policy front, markets are pricing in more than a 60% chance of a rate hike from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in May following a hot inflation report for the first quarter, with price pressures expected to intensify further in the second quarter as the full impact of higher energy costs feeds into the data. However, there remains some caution, as the Middle East conflict threatened to derail the country’s fragile economic recovery.
Germany
Bund Yields Surge on Inflation Fears
Germany’s 10-year Bund yield climbed above 3.05%, approaching its highest level since 2011, as rising crude prices and persistent inflation concerns reinforced expectations of further European Central Bank rate hikes. While the ECB is widely anticipated to keep rates unchanged at its Thursday meeting, markets are still factoring in at least two quarter-point increases for 2026. Brent crude traded above $111 per barrel following reports that US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to postpone nuclear program negotiations until the ongoing conflict and shipping disputes are resolved. Meanwhile, investors are bracing for a data-heavy week, with upcoming releases of flash Eurozone inflation and GDP figures. Adding to the economic unease, German consumer morale plunged to a three-year low ahead of May 2026, as income expectations sharply declined and purchasing sentiment worsened amid the escalating war in Iran.
United Kingdom
FTSE 100 Attempts Gains after 6-Day Loss
The FTSE 100 was flat to higher on Tuesday after six straight sessions of losses, as investors weighed ongoing tensions in the Middle East and limited progress in US-Iran talks. Brent crude climbed above $111 per barrel, with the Strait of Hormuz still largely impassable, continuing to disrupt global trade flows. Energy stocks provided support, with BP rising around 3% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by higher oil prices and trading gains, despite a warning of production impacts. Centrica and Shell also gained more than 1%, while Anglo American edged higher after reporting solid copper output following the restart of a Chilean plant. On the downside, Barclays fell over 3% despite announcing a £500 million share buyback, and Taylor Wimpey dropped more than 4% as it flagged pricing pressure amid weak housing affordability. Meanwhile, UK shop price inflation slowed to 1% in April as retailers cut prices to attract cautious consumers.
Euro Area
Euro Steady Near Two-Week Low Ahead of Key Data
The euro held near $1.17, lingering close to the two-week lows seen last week, as investors assessed the fallout from a diplomatic standoff in US-Iran negotiations and awaited a wave of critical economic releases. This week’s agenda includes Eurozone inflation and GDP figures, as well as global interest rate decisions. Market caution deepened after a US official revealed that President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal, which sought to delay discussions on Iran’s nuclear program until the two-month conflict and shipping disputes are resolved. On the monetary policy front, the European Central Bank is expected to maintain interest rates at its Thursday meeting, opting for a wait-and-see stance amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. However, further rate increases remain likely in the coming months, with markets pricing in at least two quarter-point hikes for 2026.
Euro Area
European Stocks Fall for 7th Session
European stocks edged lower on Tuesday, with both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 slipping about 0.1%, marking a seventh straight session of losses for the former. Investor sentiment remained cautious as tensions in the Middle East persisted, the Strait of Hormuz stayed largely closed, and oil prices continued to climb. The White House said US officials were reviewing Iran’s latest proposal, but reiterated that key “red lines” remain in place for any agreement to end the eight-week conflict. Corporate earnings also drove market moves. Novartis shares fell 4.1% after reporting core operating profit and sales below expectations. BP rose 2.4% as its profit more than doubled, while Barclays declined 3.4% after results disappointed investors. Air Liquide dropped about 3% after a revenue miss. AstraZeneca (-1.1%) and Siemens Energy (-2.3%) were also in the red while Shell (1.7%), TotalEnergies (1.1%), and UniCredit (1.5%) booked strong gains.
Spain
Spain Retail Trade Growth Hits 4-Month High
Retail trade in Spain rose by 4.1% year-on-year in March 2026, the most in four months, following an upwardly revised 2.3% increase in the prior month. Growth was led by non-food sales (7% vs 3.5% in February), especially household equipment (7.6% vs 1.6%) and healthcare items (6.1% vs 1.8%), while personal equipment sales rose more moderately (4.5% vs 6.6%). Food sales also picked up, rising 2.8% compared with 1.8% in the previous month. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail trade went up by 1.2%, the strongest increase since February 2025, after a revised flat reading in the previous month.
South Africa
South Africa Leading Index Edges Down
The composite leading business cycle indicator in South Africa edged down to 0.5% month-over-month in February 2026, from an upwardly revised 0.6% in the previous month. Growth in seven of the ten available component series outweighed declines in the remaining three. The strongest positive contributions came from a rise in the number of residential building plans approved and an increase in the country’s US-dollar denominated export commodity price index. However, these gains were partly offset by a decline in the volume of domestic manufacturing orders and a slowdown in the six-month smoothed growth rate of job advertisements. At the same time, the composite coincident business cycle indicator increased by 0.3% in January 2026, supported by higher industrial production and a rise in the real value of wholesale, retail, and motor trade sales. In contrast, the composite lagging business cycle indicator fell by 0.3% in January.
Spain
Spain Jobless Rate Rises in Q1
Spain’s unemployment rate climbed to 10.83% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 9.93% in the previous period, above market expectations of 9.8%. The number of unemployed persons rose by 231,500, reaching a total of 2.71 million. This seasonal spike follows the conclusion of the holiday period, a typical trend in the Spanish labor market. Employment figures saw a contraction, with 170,300 jobs lost, bringing the total number of occupied persons to 22.29 million. The services sector bore the brunt of the decline, shedding 228,400 positions, while industry showed resilience with 28,100 new roles. Despite the quarterly dip, the annual trend remains positive, with unemployment falling by 80,600 compared to Q1 2025. The Labor Force Participation Rate increased slightly to 58.86%, as the active population grew by 447,000.
Japan
Yen Gains on Hawkish BOJ Hold
The Japanese yen strengthened to around 159 per dollar on Tuesday before trimming gains, after the Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged at 0.75% for a fourth straight meeting, in line with expectations. The central bank also raised its inflation outlook while lowering its FY2026 growth projections to reflect the economic impact of the Middle East conflict. Notably, three of the nine policy board members backed a rate hike, highlighting rising concern over inflationary pressures linked to the Iran war. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to a gradual tightening path, signaling that interest rates could continue to rise as economic, price, and financial conditions evolve. Separately, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that authorities remain ready to intervene in currency markets at any time to support the yen.
Japan
Japan’s Nikkei Falls on Hawkish BOJ Hold
The Nikkei 225 Index declined 0.6% to below 60,200 on Tuesday, pulling back from recent record highs after the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 0.75% for a fourth straight meeting, in line with expectations. The central bank also raised its inflation outlook while lowering its FY2026 growth projections to reflect the economic impact of the Middle East conflict. Notably, three of the nine policy board members advocated for a rate hike, underscoring growing concern over inflationary pressures linked to the Iran war. Geopolitical developments remained in focus after Iran submitted a new proposal to the US, though disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear program continue to pose a major hurdle. On the corporate side, Advantest dropped around 5% despite strong earnings. SoftBank Group tumbled nearly 10% amid renewed concerns over the artificial intelligence sector. Other notable decliners included Hitachi (-5.8%), Tokyo Electron (-4.1%), and Fanuc Corp (-4.1%).
France
LVMH Stock Price Hits 4-week Low
LVMH shares decreased to 461.00 EUR, the lowest since March 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, LVMH lost 0.5%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 8.1%.
Zinc Pulls Back
Zinc futures dropped toward $3,370 per tonne as investors took profits after prices surged to an over 3½-year high driven by tightening near-term supply conditions. Falling LME inventories and a narrowing Cash-3M contango signaled a firmer market structure, while lower treatment charges for zinc concentrate underscored constraints in raw material availability. Stocks at the Shanghai Futures Exchange also declined 1.8%, while concentrate inventories at ports dropped sharply, further highlighting tight feedstock. Ongoing mine closures and operational disruptions have added to supply-side pressure, though some relief is expected from the restart of Boliden’s Tara mine and the ramp-up of Ivanhoe’s Kipushi project. Meanwhile, Peru’s zinc concentrate output showed mixed trends, falling monthly but improving from a year earlier. On the demand side, improving industrial activity in China supported sentiment, but persistent tensions in the Middle East continued to cloud the broader outlook.
Iron Ore Falls as China Releases BHP Stockpiles
Iron ore futures dropped below CNY 780 per ton, hitting a more than one-week low after some Chinese steelmakers were cleared to collect and trade cargoes from BHP Group that had built up at ports. The stockpiles had accumulated during a prolonged standoff, which was resolved after China’s state-backed buyer finalized negotiations with the miner. Last week, BHP confirmed it had secured a supply agreement with China Mineral Reserves Group, ending months of tensions that had led to shipment diversions, restrictions on its products, and elevated port inventories. Prices also came under pressure from demand concerns, as China steps up efforts to curb excess competition and industrial overcapacity. Meanwhile, markets continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, where stalled US–Iran negotiations have kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, limiting access to a key export market for Chinese steel.
Lithuania
Lithuania Retail Sales Rise in March
Retail sales in Lithuania rose by 5.7% year-on-year in March 2026 from an upwardly revised 2.9% in the previous month. Growth rebounded in food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.9% vs -0.3% in February), while retail trade excluding automotive fuel continued to expand (5.5% vs 2.3%), alongside mail order and internet sales (21.2% vs 20.8%), automotive fuel (6.5% vs 5.4%), and non-food products (8.1% vs 4.3%). Within specialised non-food stores, sales also improved in audio, video, hardware, furniture and lighting (2.8% vs -8.3%), information and communication equipment, cultural and recreational goods, watches and jewellery, and other new goods (0.2% vs -0.7%), textiles, clothing and footwear (1.9% vs 0.5%), as well as pharmaceuticals, medical goods and cosmetics (9.4% vs 6.7%). On a monthly basis, retail activity rose 2.3% in March, rebounding from a revised 2% decline in February.
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