US-Iran War: Ceasefire Negotiation Fails; What Does It Mean for Gold, Oil, Silver and Indian Stock Market?
Cease‑fire negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed in Islamabad, reviving geopolitical risk across markets. Analysts expect crude oil to gap up as the risk premium widens, while gold and silver are likely to open flat unless tensions intensify. The Indian stock market may open flat to mildly negative, with volatility persisting until a durable deal emerges. Market sentiment now hinges on the Strait of Hormuz’s status and broader macroeconomic trends.
Gold Rate Today: Yellow Metal Falls 9% Since Onset of US-Iran War. Experts See More Dip as Ceasefire Negotiation Fails
Gold has slipped more than 9% since the US‑Iran war began on Feb. 28, with spot prices holding at $4,761.79 per ounce and U.S. futures at $4,787.40. A failed cease‑fire negotiation in Islamabad has heightened uncertainty, prompting analysts to expect further...
CNG Price Hiked to ₹82 per Kg in Mumbai; Piped Cooking Gas Rate Remains Unchanged
Mahanagar Gas Limited raised Mumbai’s compressed natural gas (CNG) price by ₹1 to ₹82 per kilogram, roughly $1 per kg, while the domestic piped natural gas (PNG) rate stayed at ₹50 per unit (about $0.60). The hike affects a fleet...
In Philippines, LPG Price Shock Reaches Bottom of Beloved Beef Stew Bowls
The Philippines’ reliance on imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has turned costly after the Middle‑East war, with an 11 kg tank soaring from 870 pesos (≈$14.5) to 1,600 pesos (≈$26.7), an 84% jump. Street‑food vendors like Eric Garcia now charge 65 pesos (≈$1.08) per...
Gold, Silver Prices Today: Check Retail Rates of 24K, 22K Gold, 999 Silver in Mumbai, Delhi, Other Cities on 12...
India’s retail gold prices remained largely unchanged on April 12, 2026, with 24‑karat gold trading around ₹152,900 per 10 g (≈ $1,840) and 22‑karat gold near ₹140,100 per 10 g (≈ $1,690) across major cities. Silver 999 fine was priced at roughly ₹244,000 per...
Vietnam Cuts All Fuel Taxes to Zero Through June
Vietnam's National Assembly approved a zero‑tax regime for gasoline, diesel, kerosene, mazut and aviation fuel from April 16 through June 30, eliminating VAT, environmental protection tax and special consumption tax. The move cuts state‑budget revenues by roughly VND 7.3 trillion (about $277 million) each month...
Gold Surges as US–Iran Ceasefire Weakens US Dollar and Fuels Safe Haven Demand
Gold rallied sharply after the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire announcement, pushing the metal higher as the dollar slipped about 1% to a four‑week low. The move reflects heightened safe‑haven demand amid lingering geopolitical uncertainty and softer U.S. economic data, including 0.5% Q4...
House Reso Filed as State Economist Flags 'Excessive' Oil Margins
Philippines’ Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan warned that oil‑industry margins appear excessive amid a global price shock, prompting a House probe. House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima filed Resolution 914 to task the Energy Committee with investigating diesel and...
Commodity Traders Lost ‘Billions’ in Early Days of Iran War
Commodity traders incurred multi‑billion‑dollar losses during the initial weeks of the Iran‑Israel conflict that erupted in early 2024. The sharp drop in oil prices and heightened market volatility erased large speculative positions, especially in crude futures and related derivatives. Analysts...
Australia in No Position to Ease Asian Gas Crunch, Data Shows
Australia’s LNG export terminals are operating at near‑full capacity—Queensland at 94.6% and Western Australia at 98%—leaving little room to increase shipments to Asia. A new energy‑security pact with Singapore guarantees refined fuel imports for Australia while Australia re‑affirms steady LNG...
How Philippines Compares with ASEAN Neighbors During Oil Shocks
The Philippines is markedly more exposed to global oil price spikes than its ASEAN peers because it imports virtually all of its crude and lacks significant refining capacity. Neighboring economies such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam each have...
Produce Season’s Prodigal Return
Tender rejection rates in Fresno’s refrigerated market have surged from under 4% in early March to above 14% within a month, the highest since June 2023. USDA spot rates for produce shipments from central California to Chicago have climbed roughly...
How Iran’s Dark Fleet Is Quietly Keeping Oil Markets Afloat
Iran’s “dark fleet” of opaque tankers is quietly sustaining oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz despite a visible collapse of more than 90% in regulated traffic. By using shell‑company ownership, AIS deactivation and ship‑to‑ship transfers, Iran moves roughly 1.5‑1.7 million...
Why the PCC Must Act on Oil Prices Now
Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan warned that the Philippines' oil market is effectively colluding, as weekly price changes move in lockstep across firms. The 1998 Downstream Oil Deregulation Law left the Department of Energy powerless to intervene directly, creating a regulatory...
A Panicked Race for Barrels Grips the Global Oil Market
Traders in the North Sea submitted 40 bids for physical crude last week, but only four offers materialized, forcing spot cargoes to change hands at record‑high prices above $140 a barrel. The scramble for immediate supplies has spilled into distant...
West Asia Tensions Push up Costs for India; Further Impact Hinges on Stability: Report
India’s trade with West Asia totals $220 billion in FY 25, but imports—especially energy—far outpace exports, creating a sizable deficit. Ongoing tensions in the region have already lifted logistics costs and inflation, with the report estimating that each $10 per barrel rise...
Gold Rate Today, 11 April 2026: MCX Gold Logs 2% Weekly Gain on US-Iran Ceasefire Buzz. Is It the Right...
Gold prices rose this week as US‑Iran cease‑fire talks eased geopolitical risk and weakened the dollar. MCX gold closed at ₹152,690 per 10 gm (≈$1,840), up 2% from ₹149,650 (≈$1,803) a week earlier, while COMEX gold gained nearly 3% to $4,787...
Govt Hikes Export Duty on Diesel to ₹55.5/litre; ATF to ₹42/Litre From Today — Check Details
On 11 April 2026 the Indian government raised the windfall export duty on diesel to ₹55.5 per litre (about $0.67) and on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ₹42 per litre (about $0.51), effective immediately. The hike follows an earlier increase in...
GasBuddy Warns $4 Gas May Not Be the Ceiling
U.S. gasoline prices topped $4 per gallon on April 8, reaching a $4.16 national average—the highest level since summer 2022. The surge stems from a U.S.–Iran conflict that crippled Strait of Hormuz traffic, pushing West Texas Intermediate crude to about $113 per...
Here's What the Futures Markets Are Saying About Oil and the Conflict in the Persian Gulf
Oil futures are trading in backwardation, indicating near‑term supply concerns as the Strait of Hormuz remains partially closed. Roughly 34 % of global crude normally passes through the strait, and the curve suggests traders view the disruption as temporary. The market’s...
Energy Crunch Tightens Cotton Outlook
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven oil prices higher, inflating energy costs for cotton growers and mills. The USDA now projects global cotton output to drop by roughly 3.9 million bales in the 2026/27 season. Rising energy expenses have...
Oil Prices Could Race Past $150 as Ceasefire in ‘Difficult Phase’
Oil analysts at Kpler warn that Brent crude could surge past $150 per barrel if the flow of ships through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained as the US‑Iran ceasefire enters a difficult phase. Brent currently trades around $94, reflecting...
At $3.39 a Litre, Australia’s Fuel Relief Still Falls 153 Cents Short
Diesel prices in regional Australia have surged to A$3.39 per litre (about US$2.24), far exceeding the federal government’s three‑month fuel relief promise of a 58.7‑cent (≈US$0.39) saving. Even after the Road User Charge is removed and the fuel excise is...
Americans May Be Stuck with $4 Gas for a While
U.S. drivers are now accustomed to paying around $4 per gallon as the Iran‑Israel conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. A two‑week cease‑fire was announced, but shipping firms still deem the waterway too risky, limiting oil tanker traffic...
‘Cancelling Orders’ in China: How Hormuz Oil Crisis Is Hitting Transport, Manufacturing
The reopening and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven Brent crude to $100‑$105 a barrel, inflating fuel and petroleum‑based raw material costs for Chinese manufacturers. Higher freight rates—up to four times normal—are prompting firms to delay or...
Fuel Shortages From Iran War Threaten Asia’s Biggest Food Staple
The six‑week war in Iran has driven diesel and fertilizer prices sharply higher, choking the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting imports of key agricultural inputs to Southeast Asia. Rice farmers in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam face doubled or...
Tribal Gas Stations Offer a Reprieve From High Prices During Iran War
Tribal convenience stores with gas pumps are drawing price‑sensitive drivers as the Iran war pushes national gasoline prices above $4 per gallon. Because tribes are exempt from state fuel taxes, many stations sell gasoline $0.50‑$0.75 cheaper than nearby competitors, with...
Saudi Oil Output, Exports Hit After Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia reported that recent attacks on key energy infrastructure knocked out more than 600,000 barrels per day of oil production and slashed East‑West pipeline flows by roughly 700,000 barrels per day. The offshore Manifa field and onshore Khurais complex...
Oil Posts Biggest Weekly Loss Since 2020 Ahead of Iran-US Talks
Oil prices slipped sharply as the market digested the prospect of Iran‑U.S. talks. West Texas Intermediate fell 1.3% to below $97 a barrel, while weekly futures dropped 13.4%, marking the steepest decline since 2020. Prices remain over 30% above pre‑conflict...
Bigger Diesel Price Cut if Middle East Truce Holds
The Philippines may see a larger diesel price cut of P5.50‑P6.50 per litre (about $0.10‑$0.12) next week if the Middle‑East cease‑fire endures. The cut follows double‑digit fuel price spikes that pushed diesel above P170/L ($3.10) and gasoline up 54‑72%. The...
Crude Prices Dip Ahead of 'All-Or-Nothing' US-Iran Talks
Crude oil futures fell modestly on Friday as markets awaited a high‑stakes diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan. The talks, described as “all‑or‑nothing,” aim to secure a lasting end to the Middle East conflict that has been...
China to Ban Sulfuric Acid Exports as War Hits Supply
China announced a ban on sulfuric acid exports starting in May, targeting acid produced as a by‑product of copper and zinc smelting. The restriction follows supply disruptions caused by the Iran‑Israel war, which has choked sulfur shipments from the Middle...
Gulf Allays Concerns over LNG Supplies
Gulf Development Plc, Thailand’s largest energy firm, said its LNG supply remained stable despite recent spot‑price spikes caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure and disruptions in Qatar’s exports. The company has diversified its gas purchases, notably sourcing from Nigeria,...
Near-Record Storage, Early Snowmelt Hammer Western Gas Demand
An unusually warm winter has driven gas inventories across the western United States to near‑record levels, with storage now approaching 96% of historical capacity. The rapid snowmelt has also depleted the region’s snowpack, reducing hydroelectric generation by roughly 30% earlier...
Market View: US Gas Futures Tumble to 18-Month Low
U.S. natural‑gas futures dropped to an 18‑month trough this week as seasonal demand weakened during the shoulder months. A brief burst of colder weather was insufficient to lift prices, which slipped to roughly $1.70 per MMBtu, the lowest level since...
Iran War: Expensive Oil Drives Rising Inflation in U.S.
The ongoing Iran‑War has choked oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing diesel prices up 55% year‑to‑date and sparking a sharp energy‑price shock. In March, the energy component of the CPI jumped 10.9%, while the gasoline index surged...
Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk
Crude futures fell on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of upcoming U.S.-Iran talks on the Strait of Hormuz. WTI settled at $96.57 a barrel, down 1.3% and 13% for the week, while Brent slipped to $95.20, a 0.8% decline...
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Does Little for Fertilizer Availability, Prices
The recent U.S.-Iran cease‑fire will not quickly restore fertilizer flows through the Strait of Hormuz, according to StoneX market specialist Josh Linville. About 930,000 tons of fertilizer are stranded on ships, yet India alone still requires roughly 600,000 tons more to meet...
Cattle Futures Finish the Week Higher
Cattle futures closed the week higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with June live cattle up $2 to $240.20 and August live cattle gaining $1.40 to $244.75 per hundredweight. Feeder cattle also rose, as May contracts added $1.92 to $372.25...
Why Opening the Strait of Hormuz Won’t Immediately Lower Gas Prices
The New York Times explains that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, gasoline prices will not fall right away. While the waterway carries roughly 20% of global oil shipments, damage to dozens of Gulf refineries, pipelines and export terminals...
“Parking Equipment”: Minnesota Ag Commissioner Says Farmers Are Sitting Out 2026
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen warned that negative profit margins are prompting a handful of grain growers to sit out the 2026 crop year, effectively "parking" their equipment. He said some farmers are choosing to rent their land for roughly...
Strait of Hormuz Constraints Keep Oil Prices Elevated
Oil prices hover near $100 per barrel despite the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, because the Strait of Hormuz remains tightly controlled by Iran’s IRGC. Traffic through the chokepoint is limited to managed routes, preventing a return to normal commercial shipping. Analysts from...
Wholesale Rice Prices up 7% as West Asia Ceasefire Fuels Export Rush
India's wholesale rice prices jumped up to 7% in two days after a US‑Iran ceasefire sparked a surge in export orders to the Middle East and the United States. Prices had previously fallen up to 6% due to disruptions from...
Hardly Any Ships Getting Through Strait of Hormuz
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to historic lows, with daily transits now under ten vessels—a roughly 70% decline from pre‑conflict levels. The slowdown follows heightened Iranian missile threats and tighter naval inspections, prompting many carriers to...
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COST OF LIVING CRUNCH: Food or Paraffin? SA’s Poorest Forced to Choose as Prices Double
South Africa’s paraffin price more than doubled in April, climbing from R11.52 ($0.61) to R23.19 ($1.22) per litre and reaching a retail ceiling of R31.47 ($1.66). Over 500,000 households – many in informal settlements – depend on paraffin for cooking,...
Nigeria a Net Gasoline Exporter for First Time in March
Nigeria became a net exporter of gasoline in March, the first time since the Dangote refinery began operations. The refinery processed 565,000 barrels per day of crude, producing 44,000 barrels per day of gasoline, of which 40,000 b/d were exported,...
Iran War Drives Deeper Oil Shock Than Prices Reveal
The Iran‑Israel conflict has pushed the physical spot price of crude to a record $145 a barrel, more than double the level before the Feb. 28 attacks, while the widely quoted Brent futures linger around $109. The widening gap between futures...
Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some
Europe’s aggressive rollout of wind and solar has not uniformly shielded countries from soaring gas‑driven electricity prices. Germany now boasts more renewable capacity than Spain, yet its wholesale power costs still surge when natural‑gas prices spike. By contrast, Spain’s electricity...
Africa’s Solar Costs Could Rise as China Cuts Export Subsidies
China will end its 9 % export tax rebate on photovoltaic modules, cells and inverters on April 1, prompting African power developers to rush purchases before prices rise. Solar accounts for just 3 % of Africa’s electricity but is expanding rapidly through mini‑grids...
Correction to Japan Seamless Linepipe Assessments
Fastmarkets corrected the published FOB prices for Japan‑sourced seamless linepipe. The API 5L B grade price was lowered from $14,500 to $1,450 per tonne, and the API 5L X65 grade from $16,500 to $1,650 per tonne. The updates are now...