Geopolitics

Overseas galleries at Hong Kong's Art Central are considering keeping their artworks in the city for months after the fair due to soaring shipping costs from the US-Israeli war on Iran. Fuel surcharges have risen by as much as four times, gallerists told the South China Morning Post. The fair opens at Central Harbourfront on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.

March 24, 2026 Reported by AI

QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on long-term LNG supply contracts with customers in South Korea, China, Italy, and Belgium, following missile damage to its Ras Laffan facilities last week amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The attacks, detailed in prior reporting, impacted 17% of Qatar's LNG exports, with repairs expected to take three to five years.

Gold prices have fallen unexpectedly amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, diverging from their traditional safe-haven role. A strong U.S. dollar, rising Treasury yields, and profit-taking after recent gains are key factors suppressing prices. Analysts note a choppy near-term outlook but constructive long-term prospects.

March 21, 2026 Reported by AI

Bajaj Finance shares have fallen 18% so far in March, wiping out more than Rs 1 lakh crore in market value. The decline, which exceeds 20% over the past month, coincides with escalating Iran-US tensions. Factors including rising oil prices, inflation concerns, and Moody’s macroeconomic warnings have pressured financial stocks.

Alkyl Amines Chemicals announced a temporary halt in production of certain products due to a shortage of ammonia, a key raw material. The company's shares dropped 4% following the disclosure. The disruption stems from geopolitical conflict in the Middle East affecting supply chains.

March 16, 2026 Reported by AI

US and Israeli forces struck Iran on February 28, prompting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to declare the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial passage. Vessel traffic fell by roughly 70% within hours. The closure compounds pressures on fashion supply chains already strained by Red Sea disruptions, tariffs, and rising freight costs.