News•Apr 4, 2026
Reading List 04/04/2026
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict has crippled Gulf aluminum production after an Iranian drone disabled the world’s largest smelter in Bahrain, forcing major EV manufacturers to trim output. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed roughly 20 million barrels of crude per day, prompting strategic reserve releases and rerouting of shipments. Energy markets are further strained as Qatar’s helium output halts and the Philippines declares an energy emergency while Germany contemplates coal‑fired plants. In the United States, housing policy faces pushback over the new ROAD to housing act, mortgage rates rise, and Japanese investors now control about 6 % of the home‑builder sector.
