A cargo ship cruises toward the Strait of Hormuz off the shores of Khasab in Oman on Jan. 15, 2011.Marwan Naamani | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The recent flare-up in Middle East tensions isn’t denting Chinese business optimism about opportunities in the region.Chinese shipments to Dubai’s logistics hub have risen by 20% this month from a year ago, as locals stock up on batteries and daily necessities, according to estimates from Bear Huo, China general manager at FundPark, a fintech startup that lends money to small Chinese businesses selling overseas via internet platforms.”Overall, Chinese merchants are relatively optimistic,” he…
Author: usaeverydaylife
The U.S. dollar surged in early trading on Monday, benefiting from its traditional safe-haven status after U.S. military strikes on Iran — but analysts are warning the gains may be short-lived.The dollar index was up 0.45% at one point, indicating a gain against currencies such as the Japanese yen, the euro and the British pound, as well as the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars. The greenback was last seen trading around 0.4% higher at 9.30 a.m. London time.”The escalation of the Middle East crisis after the US attacks Iran during the weekend is expected to lead to some of…
Russian President Vladimir Putin tours an exhibition at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, Russia, April 30, 2025.Alexander Kazakov | Via ReutersRussia’s response to Iran’s call for help is being closely watched on Monday after the U.S. bombed Tehran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend — but Moscow might not be quick to offer its ally a hand.The attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, which President Donald Trump described as an “obliteration,” has left the Islamic Republic scrambling for support from the few friends it has on the global stage. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi…
Dollar rises, yen fallsAs markets digest the U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend, the dollar is on the rise, while other currencies typically seen as safe havens have lost momentum.The U.S. dollar index — which measures the greenback against a basket of major rivals — was 0.3% higher by 8:25 a.m. in London. So far this year, the dollar index has shed around 8.8%.Stock Chart IconStock chart iconDollar index price.The safe haven Swiss franc was flat against the dollar during early European trade, paring gains seen ahead of the regional open.Meanwhile, the Japanese yen — also typically seen as…
Cargo ships sail in the Gulf off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, which is the main base of the Islamic republic’s navy and has a strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz, on April 29, 2019.ATTA KENARE | AFP | Getty ImagesIran may be threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz but experts told CNBC that it’s also the one with the most to lose.In major move after U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites, the country’s parliament on Sunday reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, risking alienating its neighbors and trade partners.The decision to close the…
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JUNE 22: An operational timeline of a strike on Iran is displayed during a news conference with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. President Donald Trump gave an address to the nation last night after three Iranian nuclear facilities were struck by the U.S. military. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe past 24 hours have been pivotal in the Israel-Iran conflict, with the U.S. entering the war…
A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during the first session of the new year on January 2, 2025, in New York City, U.S.Timothy A. Clary | Afp | Getty ImagesThe U.S. joining the war between Israel and Iran might seem like a geopolitical flashpoint that would send markets tumbling. Instead, investors are largely shrugging off the escalation, with many strategists believing the conflict to be contained — and even bullish for some risk assets.As of 1 p.m. Singapore time, the MSCI World index, which tracks over a thousand large and mid-cap companies from 23 developed…
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (2nd L) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, April 24, 2025. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty ImagesFireworks could kick off during NATO’s annual summit this week, as the U.S. pushes its allies to sharply increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP).The 5% figure is made up of 3.5% of GDP that should be spent on “pure” defense, with an extra 1.5% of GDP going to security-related infrastructure, such as cyber warfare capabilities and intelligence. While some member states…
A satellite image shows the Fordo nuclear facility in Iran in this handout image dated June 14, 2025. Maxar Technologies | Via ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday disputed Iranian attempts to downplay the strikes on its nuclear facilities, stressing that “obliteration” was an accurate description, even though the full extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities was not immediately clear.”Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and…
Israel closes its airspace and suspended flight operations at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 13, 2025. Nir Keidar | Anadolu | Getty ImagesCommercial airlines around the world on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights after the U.S. struck Iran.Singapore Airlines, one of the highest-profile in Asia, had called the situation “fluid” on Sunday as it cancelled flights from Singapore to Dubai following a security assessment.The Middle East route has become more important for flights between Europe and Asia since Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, but flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed empty space over Iran, Iraq,…
