Peter Lewis’ Money Talk

PETER’S ASIAN BUSINESS & FINANCE BRIEFING – Monday 2 March 2026, 06:00 Hong Kong

Over the weekend, coordinated US and Israeli strikes hit Iran, prompting missile and drone retaliation that shut Dubai’s airport and threatened oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict pushed Brent crude toward $73 a barrel and heightened geopolitical risk for global markets. Meanwhile, US core producer prices rose 0.8% in January, the sharpest increase in six months, while India lifted its full‑year growth forecast to 7.6% after rebasing its GDP, and China halted a 10‑day yuan rally by scrapping a forward‑contract reserve requirement. These developments converge to pressure inflation expectations, reshape currency dynamics, and inject volatility into equity and commodity markets across Asia.