Page 31 - West Asia

Asian shares jump after oil prices sink in response to Iran ceasefire

Asian shares surged in Wednesday morning trading, as oil prices plunged after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 5.0% to 56,106.18 in early trading. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 jumped 2.6% to 8,952.30. South Korea's Kospi soared 5.9% to 5,819.97. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 2.6% to 25,767.42, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.7% to 3,957.55. Benchmark US crude sank USD16.84 to USD96.11 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard dropped USD14.51 to USD94.76 a barrel. That came as a reaction to the ceasefire as the recent spike in their prices was directly in response to the war, which had effectively blocked passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Much of the world's oil supply is transported through the strait, including oil headed to resource-poor Japan. "Yet the mood remains one of cautious optimism rather than outright celebration. The ceasefire is only two weeks long, and .

RBI sees resilience despite West Asia crisis as it keeps repo rates steady

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the West Asia conflict has raised risks to growth and inflation via oil, trade, and supply chains, but government steps on supply chains and exports may limit the imp

US-Iran ceasefire boosts airline stocks; IndiGo up 10%, SpiceJet 5%

Airline stocks rallied as easing of geopolitical tensions has led to a sharp fall in global crude oil prices, which is particularly positive for aviation companies

West Asia war: US-Iran announce 2-week ceasefire; Trump hints at China role

The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Tehran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass safely through the vital global shipping route

Missile alerts sound in West Asian countries despite Iran-US ceasefire

Israel and the United Arab Emirates both sounded missile alerts early Wednesday, despite Iran and the United States saying they had reached a two-week ceasefire in the war. It wasn't immediately clear what was being targeted in the two countries, which bore the brunt of the missile and drone fire during the war. Missile alerts also continued in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, hinting at the chaos surrounding the diplomatic moves. Throughout the war, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has called the shots in all decisions. Individual commanders have made decisions on what to strike and when, with the nation's political leadership sidelined. Whether they agreed to stop shooting with the declared ceasefire and negotiations being planned in Islamabad remained in question. However, many Mideast wars see combatants launch last-minute attacks to be able to claim victory with their populations.

Shipowners eye Hormuz ceasefire window to move over 800 trapped vessels

The near-closure of the vital waterway for weeks has created an unprecedented global energy supply crunch, as Iran tightened its control in the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes

IMF chief Georgieva warns world 'ill-equipped' to counter Iran war risks

By choking off shipments from the energy-rich Gulf region, the war has triggered a "negative supply shock, meaning that it pushes prices up, said Kristalina Georgieva

Stocks to Watch today: Rate sensitives, Infosys, Aurobindo Pharma, GAIL

Stocks to Watch today, April 8, 2026: Banks, Real estate, automobiles, Infosys, Aurobindo Pharma are some of the key stocks to watch today

Oil plunges, US futures jump as Trump pauses Iran attacks for 2 weeks

Oil prices plunged and US stock futures jumped after President Donald Trump said he would hold off on his threat of devastating attacks on Iran for two weeks if the Iranians agree to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Futures for US crude oil sank 18% to around $92.60 while Brent crude oil futures fell about 6% to $103.40. Both prices remain well above where they were at the start of the war. Futures for the S&P 500 rose 2.4%. Trump said Iran has proposed a "workable" 10-point peace plan that could help end war the US and Israel launched on Feb 28.

Multi-pronged strategy in works to tide over West Asia war impact

This may include a ₹2.5 trillion credit guarantee scheme to help businesses

West Asia war: Indian refiners turn to Venezuela, Russia for oil supply

India has also ramped up oil purchases from alternate sources such as Nigeria and Angola

Summer will be tough, but growth in line of sight, says Blue Star MD

Unseasonal rains and West Asia conflict may hit demand and costs, but Blue Star expects 20 per cent growth backed by strong long-term AC market expansion

Banks unwind 75% forex bets as RBI deadline nears; rupee, bonds gain

Rupee, bonds gain ahead of central bank's policy review outcome on Wednesday

The Covid lessons: West Asia conflict can also be used to usher in reforms

West Asia conflict may disrupt Budget 2026-27 projections, squeezing revenues and raising subsidies, prompting fiscal adjustments and potential reforms, echoing lessons from the Covid-era shock

Rewiring power for a new era: India's energy transition is too cautious

India imports more than 90 per cent of its oil needs and roughly half its gas requirements

Reducing import dependence: Renewable energy can play a significant role

It has been argued that India must push up the domestic production of fossil fuels, including oil and gas, along with diversifying sources of imports

LPG crisis may reduce India's sugar consumption by 400K tonnes: ISMA chief

Centre rules out banning sugar exports; says no proposal to lower edible oil import duties

NBFCs flag rise in MSME delinquencies as Iran war disrupts supply chains

NBFCs see early warning signs in MSME portfolios as supply disruptions and rising input costs linked to the West Asia conflict strain cash flows and push up early-stage delinquencies

Aluminium extrusion industry cuts production amid West Asia crisis

The country's aluminium extrusion sector has significantly curtailed production capacities due to the escalating crisis in West Asia, according to Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI). The disruption in global supply chains, triggered by heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, has forced companies to scale back operations from an average annual output of 1.2-1.3 million tonnes, or about 1 lakh tonnes per month, to just 50,000-60,000 tonnes currently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, ALEMAI Secretary Ankur Aggarwal said, "The capacity has been scaled down. We have been producing 1.2-1.3 million tonnes on an average yearly. We were producing one lakh tonnes every month and it scaled down to 50,000-60,000 tonnes." Highlighting the industry's concerns, ALEMAI President Jitendra Chopra said, "India's midstream and downstream aluminium sectors are undergoing a severe contraction, with production declining by 40 per cent to 50 per