Newsroom
Short, verified market news summaries; every item names its source and publication date.
Alphabet beats expectations in Q2 2026; Google Cloud revenue jumps 82%
Google's parent company Alphabet reported second-quarter results after the U.S. market close on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, beating analyst expectations on both revenue and profit. Total revenue reached $119.8 billion (above an estimate of about $116.9 billion) and earnings per share came in at $9.11. The main growth engine was Google Cloud, whose revenue jumped 82% year over year to $24.77 billion, with the unit's contract backlog reported at $514 billion. Total advertising revenue was $81.63 billion, and YouTube advertising rose 13% to about $11.06 billion. The company's capital expenditure for the quarter was reported at $44.9 billion. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the Gemini app now has 950 million active users. The report is one of the first major tests of the technology earnings season for gauging returns on heavy AI spending.
CNBC · Jul 23, 2026
Wall Street closes slightly lower Wednesday as oil jumps; S&P 500 ends at 7,498
Wall Street's main indexes ended slightly lower on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, after swinging during the session. The S&P 500 fell 0.14% to 7,498.96, the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.57% to 25,690.90, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was virtually flat (down about 6 points, or 0.01%) at 52,218.58. The main pressure came from a jump in oil prices. Brent crude rose about 3.4% on Wednesday to settle at $94.07 a barrel, its highest in more than a month and briefly above $95, while West Texas Intermediate climbed about 3% to close at $86.83. The oil rally followed an 11th consecutive night of U.S. strikes on Iran and remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran is not serious about negotiations. Investors were awaiting a wave of after-hours second-quarter results from big technology companies. For Iran's markets, the oil surge and continued military tensions are the two main channels through which this session feeds into domestic gold and currency prices.
CNBC · Jul 23, 2026
Wall Street splits on Wednesday as WTI nears $88 and traders await Alphabet and Tesla earnings
US stock indexes moved in different directions during Wednesday's session on 22 July 2026: the Dow Jones rose about 0.3 percent and the S&P 500 about 0.2 percent, while the Nasdaq slipped about 0.1 percent. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed about 2.2 percent to near $88 and Brent rose above $95, against the backdrop of an 11th night of US strikes on Iran and concern over supply through the Strait of Hormuz. The 10-year Treasury yield sat near 4.65 percent. Investors were awaiting quarterly results from Alphabet and Tesla, the first two of the seven big technology firms, after the close.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 22, 2026
EU aviation safety agency advises avoiding Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait airspace until 29 July as Gulf flights are cancelled
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised airlines to avoid the airspace of Persian Gulf states including Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait until 29 July 2026. Strikes and GPS jamming have disrupted about 1,500 flights. According to a 21 July report by The National, KLM has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until 23 August, British Airways has delayed its return to Dubai, Bahrain and Amman until 25 October, and Singapore Airlines has extended its Singapore to Dubai cancellation to 24 October. Emirates and Etihad also cancelled several Kuwait flights on 18 July. The disruptions have raised the cost and complexity of air transport across the Persian Gulf region.
The National · Jul 22, 2026
Dollar firms as a safe haven while US Treasury yields climb on the oil spike
The US dollar index stood at about 100.6 in the days to 22 July 2026, firming on safe-haven demand amid the Iran-US war and the jump in oil prices. The yield on 10-year US Treasuries rose above 4.63 percent and the 2-year yield above 4.25 percent. With the war risk premium lingering in oil prices, some bond traders are pricing in the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate hike, whereas the market had earlier expected a hold at the 29 July meeting. A stronger dollar and higher US yields typically weigh on gold pricing and on the rial, which is how this connects to Iran's market.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 22, 2026
Ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb falls 34%; Houthi blockade opens a new front for the oil market
According to ship-tracking firm Kpler, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell 34% on Tuesday, July 21 compared with the previous day, a day after Yemen's Houthi militia declared a "maritime blockade" of Saudi Arabia. At least five tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course in the Red Sea. CNN reports that Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world's key energy chokepoints, with about 7.4 million barrels of petroleum a day, roughly 7% of global oil output, transiting it in June. Analysts say simultaneous disruption at Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz has opened a new front for the oil market and intensified supply-shortfall fears. These developments have been among the main drivers pushing oil prices to a roughly six-week high.
CNN · Jul 22, 2026
Goldman Sachs: Brent could top $120 if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist
Investment bank Goldman Sachs warned in a note dated July 20 that if disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz persist, Brent crude could rise above $120 a barrel by the fourth quarter of 2026. That figure, however, is not the bank's base case. According to Business Today, Goldman analysts led by Daan Struyven estimate that Persian Gulf oil flows have fallen to below 45% of pre-war levels. The bank's base case still sees Brent around $80 in Q4 2026 and about $75 in 2027, assuming tensions ease, but it says the risks are tilted to the upside. Brent reached a roughly six-week high near $95 a barrel on Wednesday, July 22, after four days of gains. Oil prices affect Iran's economy directly through export revenue and the gold and currency markets.
Business Today · Jul 22, 2026
Trump: for every Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will destroy one bridge or power plant
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 that from now on, each time Iran attacks a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States will destroy "one bridge or power plant" in Iran, adding that the targets could include facilities near or inside Tehran. According to Axios, the remarks came during the eleventh night of US strikes on Iran and after a sharp drop in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which a large share of the world's oil passes. An Iranian military source warned in response that if the threat is carried out, Iran would strike infrastructure and energy facilities tied to US interests across the region. The escalating rhetoric over Hormuz has been a main driver of the recent rise in oil prices, lifting Brent to around $95 a barrel, with direct knock-on effects on Iran's gold and currency markets through global markets.
Axios · Jul 22, 2026
GE Vernova's Q2: orders jump 88% but shares fall
Energy company GE Vernova reported its second-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Revenue rose 22 percent year on year to 11.1 billion dollars, net income was 668 million dollars, and diluted earnings were 2.47 dollars per share. New orders jumped 88 percent to 24.2 billion dollars and the backlog reached 176 billion dollars, driven in part by demand for power for AI data centers. The company raised its 2026 revenue outlook to 45.5 to 46.5 billion dollars, but its shares fell more than 10 percent in premarket trading on margin pressure even as revenue and orders beat expectations. The surge in the company's power equipment orders is a gauge of booming global electricity demand during the data center build out.
GE Vernova · Jul 22, 2026
AT&T beats Q2 profit expectations; revenue reaches $31.6 billion
US telecom AT&T reported its second-quarter 2026 results (ended 30 June) on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Revenue rose 2.3 percent year on year to 31.6 billion dollars, and adjusted earnings came in at 0.65 dollars per share, above the roughly 0.59 dollars analysts had expected. The company added a net 432,000 postpaid phone subscribers and 646,000 internet subscribers (including 367,000 on fiber) during the quarter, and reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of 2.25 to 2.35 dollars. The shares rose after the report.
AT&T · Jul 22, 2026
Iran's interior minister in Islamabad for talks on Pakistan's mediation to halt the Iran-US war
Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. According to Pakistani media, the meetings centered on Islamabad's effort to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States and to revive the Islamabad Memorandum; border management and expanding bilateral trade toward a 10 billion dollar target were also on the agenda. The talks came as US airstrikes on Iran continued for an 11th night and after Iran had earlier declared a full suspension of its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum. The fate of this mediation matters for Iranian markets, since any sign of de-escalation or further escalation feeds directly into the war risk premium in the oil, gold and currency markets.
Pakistan Today · Jul 22, 2026
Iran fires missiles toward Jordan's port of Aqaba; Jordan says it intercepted six
Around midday local time on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, several missiles were fired from Iran toward the port city of Aqaba in southern Jordan, on the Red Sea. Jordan's military said it intercepted and destroyed six missiles, with two falling in uninhabited areas, and that it also intercepted several drones; no casualties were reported. The target was said to be US linked facilities in Aqaba. The strike was described as part of Iran's response to an 11th consecutive night of US airstrikes on Iranian territory. The war spreading toward the Red Sea keeps a war risk premium on global oil and gold, the same force that has lifted Brent above 90 dollars and gold above 4,100 dollars an ounce in recent days and fed through to Iran's currency and gold markets.
NPR · Jul 22, 2026
Bloomberg report of possible faster Bank of Japan rate hikes lifts yen off 40-year low
The dollar climbed to 163.24 yen in New York trade on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, the Japanese currency's weakest level against the dollar since 1986. The yen then edged away from that low on Wednesday, 22 July. According to a Bloomberg report relayed by CNBC, Bank of Japan officials are open to raising interest rates at a faster pace than economists expect, and the report helped the yen firm briefly. The BOJ raised its policy rate to 1% on 16 June, while the US federal funds rate stands at 3.50% to 3.75%; that rate gap, together with higher oil prices and US Treasury yields, has intensified pressure on the yen. With the yen still close to levels once seen as Tokyo's red line for currency intervention, speculation has grown that Japan may step into the market to support it.
CNBC · Jul 22, 2026
UK annual inflation eased to 2.6% in June 2026, the lowest since March 2025
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, that the country's annual consumer price index (CPI) inflation eased to 2.6% in June 2026, down from 2.8% in May and the lowest reading since March 2025. The slowdown was larger than the 2.7% the market had expected. The decline was driven mainly by softer transport inflation, especially lower motor fuel prices; the average price of diesel fell by about 10.7 pence per litre between May and June. Food inflation also cooled to 1.7%, its lowest since August 2024. The core CPIH inflation rate held at 2.8%. The data landed just before the European Central Bank's 23 July rate decision, and the continued easing in prices could give the Bank of England room to lower interest rates gradually in the coming months.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) · Jul 22, 2026
ECB decides Thursday; markets expect rates held at 2.25%
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank decides on interest rates on Thursday, 23 July 2026, with markets pricing a probability above 99 percent that the deposit rate is held at 2.25 percent. The decision follows a 0.25 percentage point increase at the June meeting, the bank's first rate rise since 2023. The July meeting is held without updated staff projections, so the main signalling burden falls on the policy statement and the press conference of President Christine Lagarde at 14:30 Central European Time. Some analysts describe it as a hawkish-leaning hold that could leave the door open for a move in September. The path of euro rates and the currency's strength matter for global markets, the euro to dollar cross, and Iran's import basket.
Morningstar · Jul 22, 2026
Iran's central bank sharply curbs liquidity injection to banks
Iran's central bank rejected most of the banks' liquidity demand in its latest open market operation, accepting only a small share, a move analysts link to reining in money creation and curbing inflation. According to a report by the Taadol newspaper on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, of roughly 3,610 trillion tomans requested by banks only about 500 trillion tomans, close to 14 percent, was approved. The interest rate in the open market operation was reported near 23 percent and the overnight interbank rate around 23.8 percent. This restrictive stance comes as Iran's point-to-point inflation reached about 88 percent in the month to late June 2026 according to the Statistical Center, while banks' short-term funding shortfall persists. Limiting the injection of resources helps rein in liquidity growth on one hand, and on the other can deepen the banking network's financial squeeze.
روزنامه تعادل · Jul 22, 2026
India's Sensex falls for a third straight session to 76,755
India's BSE Sensex fell about 715 points on Wednesday (22 July 2026) to 76,755, its third straight session of declines, while the Nifty 50 slipped below 24,000. Most sectoral indices, including realty, IT and pharma, saw broad selling. Brent crude's climb above $95 amid the West Asia tensions has raised worries over inflation, the trade deficit and pressure on the Indian rupee. India is one of the world's largest oil importers, so costlier energy directly lifts its import bill.
Business Standard · Jul 22, 2026
Bitcoin holds near $65,900 in Wednesday trading
Bitcoin traded near $65,900 in Wednesday trading (22 July 2026), with its market value estimated at about $1.33 trillion. The coin was up roughly 1.7% during the day, though slightly below the previous morning's level. The move followed a second straight week of inflows into US spot bitcoin ETFs, breaking a two-month stretch of outflows. The global crypto trend reaches Iran's market through Tether (تتر) and domestic crypto trading.
Fortune · Jul 22, 2026
Airbus unveils €5 billion share buyback and 2029 profit target; shares jump more than 7%
Aircraft maker Airbus on Wednesday (22 July 2026) unveiled a €5 billion share buyback over three years and new mid-term targets. The company set a 2029 core operating-profit goal of €12 billion to €13 billion, up from about €7.1 billion last year. Airbus shares jumped more than 7% on the European market after the announcement. The planemaker lifted first-half aircraft deliveries by about 15% year on year.
RTÉ · Jul 22, 2026
Silver rises about 1.2% on Wednesday to near $59.5 an ounce
Spot silver rose about 1.2% in Wednesday trading (22 July 2026) to around $59.5 an ounce, holding above roughly $58.8 at Tuesday's close. The move came in step with gold, which was changing hands above $4,100 an ounce at the same time. Safe-haven demand amid the military tensions in West Asia and anticipation of the US Federal Reserve's 29 July meeting has supported precious metals. Silver's global trend matters for Iran's domestic market too, since local gold and coin prices usually track the international precious-metals path.
FXStreet · Jul 22, 2026
European natural gas tops €59, a four-month high
The price of Dutch TTF natural gas, Europe's main benchmark, rose above €59 per megawatt-hour this week, its highest in about four months. The main driver was cited as the military tensions in West Asia and the disruption to tanker and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, together with delays to Qatari LNG exports. Europe is refilling gas storage ahead of the cold season, and reduced LNG supply from the Persian Gulf could make the continent's competition with Asian buyers more costly. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital channel for Iran's and the region's energy exports, and its volatility directly affects the global energy market and inflation expectations.
Trading Economics · Jul 22, 2026
Mediators float a 10-day Iran-US ceasefire proposal; Washington has yet to accept
According to Axios, a group of mediators comprising Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and Oman has presented Iran and the United States with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire. The plan, floated on Monday 20 July 2026, envisions a halt to hostilities, a return by both sides to the positions they held before 9 July, the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and an opportunity to salvage an earlier memorandum of understanding. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that Tehran had received ideas and proposals from mediators aimed at reducing tensions but gave no details. The administration of President Donald Trump is reviewing the plan and has urged Israel to avoid steps that could close the window for diplomacy. As of Wednesday evening 22 July, however, neither side had accepted the document, and Trump has played down the prospect of talks.
Axios · Jul 22, 2026
Oil jumps about 4% on Wednesday; Brent nears $95 as gold holds close to $4,130
Oil prices rose about 4% in early trading on Wednesday 22 July 2026, with Brent reaching roughly $95 a barrel, its highest in several weeks, after an eleventh consecutive night of US strikes on Iran. According to CNBC, the jump gathered pace after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is not serious about peace talks. Concern over disruption to export routes, above all the Strait of Hormuz, has been the main driver of the rally. At the same time, spot gold traded near $4,127 an ounce, holding close to recent records as safe-haven demand amid the US-Iran tensions kept the metal elevated. The global rise in oil and gold feeds directly into Iran's domestic market, from coin and gold prices to inflation expectations.
CNBC · Jul 22, 2026
US widens strikes on Iran overnight; Tabriz hit for the first time as Tehran air defenses activate
The United States widened the scope of its airstrikes on Iran early on Wednesday 22 July 2026, striking a military site near the north-western city of Tabriz for the first time since hostilities intensified over the past two weeks, according to Iranian media. Overnight strikes also hit areas in the west and south of the country, including Kabudarahang in Hamadan province, Chavar and Abdanan in Ilam province, the port of Mahshahr and Sirik near the Strait of Hormuz, and Bushehr on the Persian Gulf coast. Air defenses were activated over Tehran during the attacks. President Donald Trump played down the prospect of near-term talks, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tehran is not serious about negotiations. It was the eleventh consecutive night of exchanged strikes. Strikes near energy hubs and the Strait of Hormuz have deepened market concern over disruption to oil exports.
Bloomberg · Jul 22, 2026
Tehran Stock Exchange index flat on Wednesday after Tuesday's rally; about 795 billion tomans of retail money exits
Tehran Stock Exchange's main index, TEDPIX, closed on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 (31 Tir 1405) at 4,883,977 points, down about 3,575 points or 0.07 percent, leaving it essentially unchanged after Tuesday's strong 1.54 percent rally. Trading opened with roughly 80 percent of listed symbols in positive territory, but supply picked up from the second half of the session and the share of gainers slipped to about 63 percent by the close. The over-the-counter Iran Fara Bourse index rose about 0.47 percent to 38,852 points. According to the session report, roughly 795 billion tomans of retail (individual) money left the market during the day, pointing to cautious behaviour among small investors. Index figures are based on Sahmino live data as of 12:39 on Wednesday, 31 Tir.
تجارتنیوز · Jul 22, 2026
Iran's car market stays lower in Wednesday trading
Iran's domestic car market was mostly lower in trading on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 (31 Tir 1405), extending the previous day's downtrend, with a significant share of Iran Khodro and Saipa models changing hands at lower prices. Sluggish turnover and political and economic uncertainty have kept buyers cautious. Among actively traded models, the Peugeot 207 posted one of the largest declines. This came even as the gold and currency markets rose on the same day, with the car market following a separate, downward path.
خبر فوری · Jul 22, 2026
Bank of Russia to decide on key rate on Friday
The Board of the Bank of Russia will decide on its key interest rate on Friday, 24 July. At its previous meeting on 19 June, the bank cut the rate by 0.25 percentage point to 14.25 percent, a more cautious move than some analysts who had expected a larger reduction. The central bank has flagged inflation risks from higher energy prices following the war in West Asia, as well as strikes on domestic refineries. Russia, as a major sanctioned oil exporter, is alongside Iran part of the oil supply equation and the discounted export routes to the Asian market.
Bank of Russia · Jul 22, 2026
Markets await 29 July Fed meeting; odds of a rate hold near 65 percent
The US Federal Reserve holds its next monetary policy meeting on 29 July, and markets, pricing in roughly a 65 percent probability, expect the benchmark rate to stay in the 3.50 to 3.75 percent range. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh held rates unchanged at his first meeting in June, and the minutes of that meeting showed officials split almost evenly over the future path of rates. The dollar index (DXY) has hovered near 100.6 in recent days. The Fed's decision and the dollar's path matter for Iran's market because they influence the global gold price and, indirectly, the domestic gold and currency markets.
Capital.com · Jul 22, 2026
Japanese yen falls to 40-year low as dollar passes 163 yen
The Japanese yen slid to 163.24 per dollar in Tuesday trading (30 Tir), its weakest level since late 1986. A broad strengthening of the dollar following the latest round of military tensions in West Asia, higher oil prices and concerns over US inflation has been cited as the main driver. Japanese officials warned on Wednesday they would intervene in the currency market if needed to curb the yen's slide. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tokyo is ready to act decisively, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stressed the government's readiness to respond in a timely manner. A weaker yen raises import costs and inflationary pressure in Japan.
Business Recorder · Jul 22, 2026
Exchange Center dollar sets record; remittance selling rate reaches 151,120 tomans
The US dollar at Iran's Currency and Gold Exchange Center set a fresh record on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 (31 Tir 1405). The remittance selling rate rose 205 tomans from the previous day, from 150,915 to 151,120 tomans, entering the 151,000 toman channel for the first time. In the open market, the dollar climbed to about 191,500 tomans in the same day's trading, up roughly 0.6 percent from the prior day. The gap between the open market rate and the Exchange Center remittance rate remains around 40,000 tomans. Continued military tensions and uncertainty over the path of negotiations and the war have kept upward pressure on the currency market.
خبرگزاری دانشجو · Jul 22, 2026
Gold and coin rally in Wednesday trading as global bullion holds above $4,100
Iran's gold and coin market turned higher in trading on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 (31 Tir 1405), after an early dip, with most items changing hands above their opening prices. Based on the latest market data around 11:30 that day, one gram of 18 karat gold traded at about 18.9 million tomans (up roughly 2.6 percent from the prior day) and one mithqal of gold at about 82 million tomans. The Emami coin rose about 2.2 percent to around 190 million tomans, and the coin premium widened sharply in the session. The main driver was the climb in global bullion, which held above $4,100 and near $4,130 an ounce in Wednesday trade. Safe haven demand amid regional military tensions and anticipation of next week's Federal Reserve meeting has underpinned the advance.
اکو ایران · Jul 22, 2026
Spot Gold Climbs Back Above $4,100 in Wednesday Trade
Spot gold rose about 1 percent in Wednesday trade on 22 July 2026, climbing back above the $4,100 an ounce level. Bullion changed hands near $4,119 by Wednesday morning, while US gold futures traded around $4,124. Even so, the price remains near its lowest level in nine months and well below the record set earlier this year. The main driver was safe-haven demand amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and threats by Houthi forces to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. On the other side, high US Treasury yields (the 10-year yield in the mid-4 percent range) and a firmer dollar kept a lid on gold's advance. For the Iranian market, the global ounce is the main anchor for domestic gold and coin prices; the Emami coin traded around 185 million tomans on Tuesday, 21 July.
EconoTimes · Jul 22, 2026
Rubio: US still ready to negotiate but Iran is not serious; strikes continue for an 11th night
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila that Washington remains committed to diplomacy and is ready to negotiate, but that, in his words, "the problem is they (Iran) are not serious about talks; if they are serious, we are serious." He accused Iran of failing to honor the understanding on the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, US Central Command (Centcom) said it had struck Iranian military command centers, drone storage sites and logistics infrastructure for an 11th consecutive night, aiming to "degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz." Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a fresh wave of attacks "to punish the US" had begun early Wednesday. The continuing war and the diplomatic stalemate remain the single most important external variable for Iran's currency, gold and equity markets.
CNN · Jul 22, 2026
Gold and coins retreat in Wednesday trading; Emami coin below 185 million toman
The gold and coin market eased slightly in Wednesday's session (22 July 2026) compared with the previous day. According to market reports, the Emami coin (new design) traded around 184 million toman, the old-design (Bahar Azadi) coin near 180.5 million toman, the half-coin about 94 million toman, the quarter-coin around 52.5 million toman, and the gram coin about 27 million toman. These levels were a touch below Tuesday's (21 July) close, when the Emami coin had traded near 186 million toman. In Wednesday's late-day trading most coin pieces pulled off the day's lows and changed hands above their opening rates. Domestic gold and coin prices continue to track two variables: the global gold ounce and the exchange rate.
اکو ایران · Jul 22, 2026
Free-market dollar holds near 190,000 toman on Wednesday; euro around 216,000 toman
The free-market US dollar traded around 190,000 toman in Wednesday's session (22 July 2026), holding near its recent highs. In the early hours of trading the dollar changed hands at about 190,300 toman and the euro at roughly 216,640 toman. The currency market remains caught between two opposing forces, war and diplomacy: continued strikes and tension around the Strait of Hormuz on one side, and speculation over a ceasefire and negotiations on the other, keeping rates in a tight, sensitive band. At Tuesday's (21 July) close the dollar had also been recorded near 190,300 toman, up about 1.4 percent on the day.
خبرآنلاین · Jul 22, 2026
Turkish Lira Falls to a Record Low Against the Dollar
The Turkish lira fell to a record low against the US dollar on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with market data showing the dollar trading at around 47.2 lira. The currency's gradual slide has continued in recent months. At its June meeting, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey held its policy rate at 37% (with the overnight lending rate at 40%) for a third straight time and said this year's rate-cutting cycle has ended. The bank pointed to higher energy prices stemming from the war in the region as a factor lifting the underlying inflation trend. Turkey is a major trading partner and travel destination for Iranians, so the lira's level affects cross-border trade and Iranians' costs there.
Trading Economics · Jul 22, 2026
China's Independent Refiners Trim Iranian Oil Purchases as Unsold Cargoes Pile Up at Sea
Oil-market reports for July 2026 indicate that China's independent "teapot" refiners, concentrated in Shandong province and the main buyers of Iranian crude, have trimmed their Iranian purchases and turned to cheaper oil from Qatar, Iraq and the UAE. Those rival cargoes, for August to September delivery, were offered at discounts of about $5 to $8 a barrel to Brent. Tanker-tracking data cited in the reports put China's Iranian oil imports this month at around 556,000 barrels per day, described as the lowest since January 2023. After Persian Gulf producers resumed exports following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in late June, some Iranian crude has been left unsold at sea, and Iranian sellers have offered discounts of more than $10 a barrel to keep buyers. Softer Chinese demand could weigh on Iran's foreign-currency revenue.
InvestingLive · Jul 22, 2026
Asian Stocks Jump Wednesday on a Chip Rally; South Korea's KOSPI Hits a Fresh Record
Asian stock markets climbed on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, led by semiconductor shares. South Korea's KOSPI rose about 5.9% to 7,149, a fresh record, while Japan's Nikkei 225 gained about 1.8% to near 67,400. The main driver was a roughly 5% jump in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index during the prior US session. Memory-chip makers such as SK Hynix and Kioxia each rose about 9%. Even so, concern over US-Iran tension, higher oil prices, and anticipation of earnings from major US companies (including Tesla and Alphabet) capped part of the advance.
TradingKey · Jul 22, 2026
Spot Gold Holds Above $4,050 in Wednesday Trade as Safe-Haven Demand Firms
Spot gold held above $4,050 an ounce in early Wednesday trade on 22 July 2026, rising to around $4,080. The move followed a pullback in the prior session that had taken gold near the $4,000 psychological level. The main driver was firmer safe-haven demand as the US and Iran exchanged strikes for an 11th day. Some analysts say the gain reflected buying after the recent decline rather than a fresh fundamental shift. The international gold ounce is the direct benchmark for the price of coins and each gram of 18-carat gold in Iran's domestic market.
FXStreet · Jul 22, 2026
Oil Holds Above $91 in Wednesday Trade; Brent Near a Roughly Five-Week High
Oil held firm in early Wednesday trade on 22 July 2026, with Brent trading above $91 a barrel, near its highest level in about five weeks. In early dealing, Brent changed hands in a range of roughly $91.5 to $92 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) near $85 (intraday figures). The main driver was the continuation of US strikes on Iran into an 11th night and concern over supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil passed before the war. Global oil prices affect Iran's export revenue and budget as well as the broader mood across commodity and equity markets.
AFP · Jul 22, 2026
US Strikes Iran for an 11th Straight Night; Hegseth Puts the War's Cost at $37.5 Billion
US forces struck military targets in Iran for an 11th consecutive night in the early hours of Wednesday, 22 July 2026. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war has cost about $37.5 billion so far. Kuwait reported a fresh drone attack, while Iran warned it could widen the scope of the regional conflict. Tension between Tehran and Washington remained elevated despite mediation efforts toward a ceasefire. Escalating military tension in the region is a primary driver of moves in gold, currency, and oil prices in Iran and worldwide, which makes the trajectory of the conflict directly relevant to domestic financial market participants.
Al Jazeera · Jul 22, 2026
Spot Gold Rose About 1.6% on Tuesday, Pulling Back From a Nine-Month Low as US-Iran Talk Hopes Lifted Prices
Spot gold rose about 1.6% on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, to near $4,072 an ounce, pulling back from the nine-month low near $4,008 it had touched that morning. The rebound was driven by short covering and hopes for a resumption of US-Iran talks and a proposed ceasefire. Silver also climbed sharply on Tuesday, reaching near $59 an ounce. Easing fears of a wider war modestly tempered safe-haven demand, though the market remains cautious about the path of negotiations. Global gold is the direct benchmark for Iran's domestic coin and gold market: the international ounce, together with the exchange rate, sets the price of the Emami coin and each gram of 18-carat gold.
Reuters · Jul 22, 2026
Two Tankers Carrying Saudi Crude Reversed Course in the Red Sea; First Confirmed Rerouting After the Houthi Threat
On Tuesday, 21 July 2026, two tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course in the Red Sea, a day after Yemen's Houthi forces warned they could target ships using Saudi ports. According to ship-tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the two vessels had been sailing south in the Red Sea toward China and India before turning north toward the Suez Canal. One of the ships, the very large crude carrier Shin Long Yang, had loaded about 2 million barrels of crude at the port of Yanbu the previous day and was bound for China. The Aframax tanker Rhodes, carrying about 700,000 barrels of Saudi crude to India, also reversed course. Maritime risk group Vanguard called it the first confirmed commercial rerouting following the Houthi threat, one likely to increase disruption to Saudi crude exports and regional shipping. The development was among the drivers of Tuesday's jump in oil prices.
MarineLink · Jul 22, 2026
Oil Rose About 2% on Tuesday; Brent Settled at $91, a Five-Week High
Oil prices climbed about 2% on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, to a five-week high. Brent crude settled up roughly 2% at $91.01 a barrel, its highest close since 10 June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained about 2% to settle at $84.91, its highest close since 11 June. The rally was driven by fears of worsening energy supply disruption in West Asia: continued exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran and a threatened naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi forces. On Tuesday, two tankers carrying Saudi crude bound for Asia reversed course in the Red Sea. Brent stayed in technically overbought territory for a seventh straight session, the first such run since June 2025. Global oil prices bear directly on Iran's markets, from oil export revenue to inflation expectations and the exchange rate.
Reuters · Jul 22, 2026
Wall Street's Big Earnings Day: Tesla, Alphabet and Intel Report Q2 After Wednesday's Close
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 is one of the busiest days of Wall Street's earnings season: Tesla, Alphabet (Google's parent), Intel and Texas Instruments all release their second-quarter results after the US stock market closes. Investors see the reports as the first real test of Big Tech's heavy spending on artificial intelligence. Tesla had already reported delivering 480,126 vehicles in the second quarter (up 25 percent from a year earlier), and the market expects revenue of about $26.4 billion. Texas Instruments is expected to post earnings of roughly $1.95 per share on revenue near $5.2 billion. Results from these giants could move chipmaker stocks and the Nasdaq, which reached a record this week.
Tech Times · Jul 22, 2026
General Motors Beats Q2 2026 Estimates and Raises Full-Year Guidance
General Motors, the largest US automaker, reported adjusted earnings of $3.57 per share for the second quarter on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, up 41 percent from a year earlier and above analysts' consensus of $3.13. The company attributed the result to pricing power, strong truck sales and cost discipline. GM raised its full-year 2026 adjusted operating profit outlook to a range of $14 billion to $16 billion (about $12 to $14 in adjusted earnings per share) and trimmed its expected gross tariff costs for the year to $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, from $3 billion to $4 billion, citing a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down part of the emergency tariffs.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 22, 2026
Russian wheat export prices rise as Black Sea and Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
Russian new-crop wheat with 12.5 percent protein was quoted at about $238 to $241 a tonne late last week, up from roughly $227 to $229 the previous week, according to consultancy Sovecon. Shipments from Russia's shallow-water Black Sea ports have been restricted since July 10 for safety reasons after drone attacks in the area. In global trade, Chicago Board of Trade wheat rose on Tuesday, July 21, to around $6.87 a bushel, its highest since June 2024, before easing about 0.5 percent to near $6.79. Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has added further cost and risk to freight. Iran is one of the world's largest wheat importers and Russia is its top supplier, so higher Black Sea prices and freight rates raise the country's food import bill at a time of rial weakness.
The Western Producer · Jul 22, 2026
S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at records on Tuesday, July 21, as chip stocks power Wall Street
Wall Street's main indexes rose on Tuesday, July 21, led by a rebound in semiconductor shares, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both closing at record highs. The Nasdaq Composite gained about 1.3% to around 25,837, the S&P 500 added roughly 0.9%, and the Dow Jones rose about 0.8%. The rally was driven by chip stocks: Micron climbed about 10%, Intel about 7%, and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) around 4%. Investors leaned on stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and looked past the US-Iran military tensions ahead of Big Tech results later this week (Alphabet and Tesla report Wednesday after the close). Strength in US equities sets the tone for global risk appetite, even as the war risk premium continues to weigh on oil and gold.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 21, 2026
Iran pays July cash subsidy for income deciles four through nine at 300,000 tomans per person
Iran's July (Tir 1405) cash subsidy was paid to households in the fourth through ninth income deciles. According to the official announcement, the subsidy for each member of a household in these deciles is 300,000 tomans. On that basis, a one-person household receives 300,000 tomans, a two-person household 600,000, a three-person household 900,000, and a four-person household 1.2 million tomans. The cash subsidy is one of the government's largest income-support programs, paid monthly into the accounts of tens of millions of Iranians, and its real value has been eroded by high inflation.
جام جم آنلاین · Jul 21, 2026
US bitcoin ETFs log a second straight week of inflows, breaking a two-month rout
US-listed spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded net inflows for a second consecutive week (through about 20 July), ending a roughly two-month stretch of outflows. According to reports, inflows over the latest five trading days reached about 727 million dollars, the longest such streak since the late-April to early-May period. The flows coincided with bitcoin climbing above 66,000 dollars on Tuesday 21 July (30 Tir), its highest in around two weeks. Even so, some analysts caution that the inflows likely reflect easing selling pressure rather than a broad return of institutional demand. The direction of bitcoin ETF flows is one gauge of the overall crypto-market mood that Iranian traders watch.
Bloomberg · Jul 21, 2026
Copper jumps on Tuesday as Latin American supply squeeze deepens
Copper prices rose in Tuesday's (21 July) trading on worries over a Latin American supply squeeze, with the metal reaching about 6.37 US dollars per pound, up roughly 2.4 percent from the previous day. The main driver is production bottlenecks in Chile and Peru, which together supply about 40 percent of the world's mined copper. According to reports, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) has shifted its 2026 balance forecast from a 209,000-tonne surplus to a 150,000-tonne deficit. Antofagasta also said its first-half copper output fell 9.5 percent to 285,000 tonnes. Copper is a key benchmark for the base-metals companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.
The Rio Times · Jul 21, 2026
Parliament's economic commission opposes the new directive on releasing 'justice shares'
In mid-Tir 1405 (July 2026), members of parliament's economic commission and the cooperatives-and-justice-shares faction opposed the Securities and Exchange Organization's new directive on the mechanism for releasing 'justice shares' (saham-e edalat), and in a letter to the parliament speaker called for it to be reconsidered. According to the deputy head of the economic commission, the directive, which has been put before the Supreme Council of Securities, contains serious ambiguities and weaknesses, including an unclear oversight mechanism and undefined spending standards at the provincial justice-share investment companies. The lawmakers stressed that any hasty decision on how these shares are freed and managed should be halted. Justice shares are an asset held by millions of Iranians, and any change in how they are administered bears directly on the equity market.
همشهری آنلاین · Jul 21, 2026
Iran Exchange Center sells 24 kg of gold bars at its 11th bullion auction on Tuesday
The 11th standard gold-bar auction of the year 1405 was held on Tuesday, 21 July (30 Tir), from 14:00 to 17:00 on the trading floor of the Iran Exchange Center. According to the exchange, 24 kg of the 26 kg of bars offered at the session were bought, for a total value of about 581.59 billion tomans. The average price per bar in this auction was recorded at 24.23 billion tomans. Including Tuesday's session, the total gold sold across the eleven auctions held so far in 1405 has reached 599 kg, worth roughly 15,000 billion tomans. The bullion auctions are one of the Iran Exchange Center's tools for meeting investment demand in the gold market.
صدای بورس · Jul 21, 2026
Saudi Tadawul index falls 0.4% to 10,699 on Tuesday as oil slides
Saudi Arabia's benchmark Tadawul All Share Index closed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, down about 43 points, or 0.4 percent, at 10,698.81. Shares of oil giant Aramco also fell around 0.5 percent as global crude prices slipped. Gulf equity markets moved in different directions on Tuesday as investors tracked mediation efforts between Iran and the United States alongside fresh security risks in the Red Sea, including Houthi threats to block Saudi shipping routes. Swings in Persian Gulf bourses are one regional barometer of how the current crisis is affecting asset markets in Iran's neighbours.
Arab News · Jul 21, 2026
Trump threatens to strike Iran's underground 'Pickaxe Mountain' nuclear site 'very heavily'
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that Washington intends to strike the underground nuclear facility known as "Pickaxe Mountain" in central Iran "very heavily" and soon. He made the remarks as the United States carried out a tenth consecutive night of air strikes on Iran, and claimed Tehran was "desperate" to talk. Pickaxe Mountain, located about two kilometres south of the Natanz nuclear complex and some 220 kilometres south of Tehran, has been under construction since 2020, and Iran initially described it as a centrifuge assembly plant. According to satellite-image analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security, the site is carved tens of metres below the mountain's bedrock and is assessed to be deeper and more fortified than the Fordow facility; IAEA inspectors have never been granted access, and the site has not previously been struck. An escalated threat against a hardened nuclear site raises the war-risk premium weighing on markets, a factor that has pressured Iran's currency and domestic gold as well as global oil prices in recent weeks.
Al Jazeera · Jul 21, 2026
Iran's government denies a gasoline price hike; rumored 10,000-toman third tier has no approval yet
Following reports about a possible "third tier" gasoline price of 10,000 toman per liter from the start of Mordad (23 July), Iran's government spokesperson stressed on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 (30 Tir 1405), that the government currently has no plan to change gasoline prices. The spokesperson of the parliament's energy commission also said that while there is talk of a gasoline price increase, no official decision has so far been communicated to parliament. The head of the Energy Optimization and Strategic Management Organization added that any decision to manage the gasoline shortfall would be taken only after weighing all economic and social dimensions. Fuel pricing and rationing is one of the country's most sensitive economic files because of its direct effect on inflation and transport costs, and the market reacts to any signal about it.
روزنامه تعادل · Jul 21, 2026
Gap between Iran's free-market and exchange-center dollar widens to about 39,000 toman on Tuesday
The gap between Iran's free-market dollar and the exchange-center transfer rate (the agreed, or tavafoghi, rate of the Iran Currency and Gold Exchange Center) widened on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 (30 Tir 1405). The exchange-center transfer dollar rose about 227 toman to nearly 150,900 toman, while the free-market dollar climbed about 1.4 percent to around 190,000 toman by Tuesday evening. On that basis, the gap between the two rates reached about 39,000 toman (close to 26 percent), a spread that reflects the war-risk premium in the open market amid the Iran-US conflict. At the same exchange center, the euro transfer rate was about 172,223 toman and the UAE dirham about 41,093 toman. The tavafoghi rate is an official, managed rate used for part of the country's imports and trade transactions, and it typically sits below the free-market rate.
روزنامه تعادل · Jul 21, 2026
Saudi Arabia rejects Houthi maritime embargo declaration, vows to protect Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, rejected the declaration of a maritime embargo against it by Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, dismissing the claim as false. The Houthis had announced on Monday the immediate imposition of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on an "eye for an eye" basis, in response to what they call a blockade of Yemen. Riyadh stressed it would use all lawful measures under international law to protect its shipping and warned of the risk of escalation in the Red Sea. The United Nations also condemned the latest Houthi threats and voiced concern over the danger of a wider regional crisis. The move comes as vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted because of the Iran-US war. A closure of the Bab al-Mandab passage could disrupt Saudi Arabia's Red Sea crude exports (about 4.5 million barrels per day, most of it bound for Asia) and add fresh pressure on the global oil market and the Brent risk premium that matters for Iran's economy.
The National · Jul 21, 2026
European shares edge higher Tuesday as easing oil and earnings lift sentiment
European stock indexes edged higher in Tuesday trading, 21 July 2026, after a weak start to the week. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose about 0.1 percent to around 640 points. A pullback in oil prices from one-month highs, following reports of mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, helped lift sentiment, even as concern over energy-supply disruption persisted after Yemen's Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. Technology was the best-performing sector, up about 0.9 percent, with semiconductor-equipment makers ASML and ASMI gaining around 2.8 and 2.1 percent respectively. On the earnings front, drugmaker Novartis rose about 2.2 percent after its operating profit beat estimates.
Reuters · Jul 21, 2026
US stock indexes rise Tuesday; Nasdaq up 1% as chip stocks rebound before a heavy earnings week
US equity markets rose in Tuesday trading, 21 July 2026. The Nasdaq climbed about 1 percent, led by a rebound in semiconductor stocks, while the S&P 500 gained around 0.6 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 0.5 percent. Nvidia shares added about 1 percent after the chipmaker disclosed a stake in the neocloud provider Nebius. Investors are heading into a heavy earnings week: Alphabet and Tesla report quarterly results on Wednesday and Intel on Thursday, with 77 S&P 500 members reporting in all this week. Tuesday's advance followed Monday's decline, when worries over US-Iran tensions had dragged the market lower.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 21, 2026
Free-market dollar climbs to around 190,000 tomans on Tuesday evening amid the war-versus-talks tug
The free-market dollar in Tehran extended its gains during trade on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. Having started the day at around 187,700 tomans before trading began, the dollar rose about 1.3 percent to the 190,200 toman area, a level above the roughly 189,000 tomans seen earlier in the morning. Sahmino's live figures also put the rate near 190,400 tomans. Market participants attribute the swings to a tug between two opposing signals: continued strikes and military tension in the Strait of Hormuz on one side, and reports of mediators proposing a ceasefire and talks between Tehran and Washington on the other. Each fresh signal about escalation or de-escalation has kept the exchange rate volatile.
تجارتنیوز · Jul 21, 2026
Gold and coin rebound in Tuesday evening trade; Emami coin nears 185 million tomans as premium shrinks
Tehran's gold and coin market reversed its morning slide on the evening of Tuesday, 21 July 2026. The Emami coin climbed about 1.6 percent back toward 185 million tomans, after retreating to around 182 million tomans earlier in the day. A gram of 18-karat gold rose about 1.5 percent to nearly 18.45 million tomans. The quarter coin edged up to around 52.8 million tomans, while the half coin traded near 94 million tomans. As gold and the dollar rose, the Emami coin's premium (the so-called bubble) narrowed markedly, easing to around 5 million tomans. The evening rebound in the domestic market was driven mainly by the higher free-market dollar rate and the swing in the global gold ounce near the 4,000 dollar area. Sahmino's live figures on its prices pages confirm the same rebound.
اقتصادنیوز · Jul 21, 2026
European natural gas hits a four-month high as the Hormuz standstill and delayed Qatari LNG lift prices
Europe's benchmark natural gas index, the Dutch TTF, rose to nearly 60.5 euros per megawatt-hour in trading on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, its highest level in about four months, before paring some of the gain to around 58.5 euros. The index had already climbed above 56 euros on Monday, 20 July. According to reports, European gas prices have risen more than 15 percent this week and more than 29 percent since the start of July. The main driver is the escalating US-Iran war and the effective standstill of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which has delayed a recovery in LNG exports from Qatar, the world's largest exporter, and intensified competition between European and Asian buyers for cargoes. Qatar had earlier paused its plans to increase output after an attack on an LNG tanker in early July. Elevated gas prices ahead of winter make it harder for Europe to refill its storage.
Investing.com · Jul 21, 2026
Trump imposes new 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods; Carney calls it a breach of the trade pact
On Monday, 20 July 2026, US President Donald Trump signed three proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, imposing an additional 50 percent tariff on a set of goods imported from Canada. The White House described the move as a response to what it called Canada's discriminatory treatment of American products. The tariffs cover a range of goods, from wine and hockey sticks to cement, take effect in 30 days, and apply regardless of whether a good originates under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the decision the latest in a series of unilateral US trade actions that violate the pact and said Ottawa stands ready to intensify talks to resolve the dispute. An escalating trade dispute between two of the world's largest economic partners can weigh on global market risk sentiment and the value of the dollar.
The White House · Jul 21, 2026
Iran strikes damage Kuwait's desalination and power plants; Kuwait urges power rationing
In the early hours of Tuesday, 21 July 2026, during the tenth consecutive night of US strikes on Iran, the Revolutionary Guard targeted Kuwaiti infrastructure in retaliation against Washington's regional allies. According to international news outlets, a desalination complex and several Kuwaiti power plants caught fire and suffered serious damage, with a number of electricity generation units knocked out. Reports also point to damage at a Kuwaiti oil refinery. Kuwait's energy ministry urged residents to cut and ration electricity use during peak hours, a sensitive matter given that close to 90 percent of Kuwait's drinking water comes from these desalination facilities. The strikes are part of an escalation in the Persian Gulf that has brought tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly to a halt and lifted the risk premium in global oil markets; Brent traded in the 89 to 90 dollar per barrel range on Tuesday.
NBC News · Jul 21, 2026
Japan's Nikkei jumps 3.3% on Tuesday as buyers return to chip stocks
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index closed Tuesday, July 21, up 2,091 points, or 3.26 percent, at 66,232, while the broader TOPIX gained 2.44 percent to 4,015. The jump was a technical rebound after a three-day decline, as investors, with last week's worries easing, returned to semiconductor and artificial-intelligence-related shares. In the currency market, the dollar traded in the mid-162 yen range, a tailwind for Japan's export-oriented stocks. Market attention now turns to upcoming earnings reports from major US technology companies.
Nippon.com · Jul 21, 2026
India's stocks fall on Tuesday under oil pressure, Sensex below 77,500
India's BSE Sensex closed Tuesday, July 21, down 238 points, or 0.31 percent, at 77,470, while the Nifty 50 fell 51 points (0.21 percent) to 24,188. The main driver was Brent crude holding around $90 a barrel amid West Asia tensions and news of mediation between the US and Iran. India is one of the world's largest oil importers, and a sustained rise in oil prices increases the risk of inflation, a wider trade deficit, and pressure on corporate profits. Among stocks, Cipla was the weakest performer, down about 2 percent, while information-technology and automaker shares also declined.
HDFC Sky · Jul 21, 2026
US natural gas near a two-month low as the gap with global LNG widens amid the Hormuz crisis
US natural gas (Henry Hub) fell to about $2.85 per million BTU in mid-July, its lowest level in two months. Rising domestic output (around 110 billion cubic feet per day), above-average inventories, and lower LNG exports during maintenance at the Freeport terminal (from July 10 until late August) have kept US domestic supply ample. That decline runs opposite to the trend in global gas prices, where disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and reduced LNG loadings in the Persian Gulf have tightened supply for European and Asian buyers and pushed prices higher. The gap shows how the current energy crisis has split the world gas market in two: the US with a cheap surplus, and Hormuz-dependent markets facing scarcity and higher costs.
Trading Economics · Jul 21, 2026
Russia bans diesel exports through end of July, squeezing the global fuel market
Russia imposed a full ban on diesel exports on July 8 to boost supplies to its domestic market. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the decision at a meeting attended by Vladimir Putin. The move follows large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries that, according to reporting, have knocked out about 25 percent of the country's oil-refining capacity versus a year earlier, causing fuel shortages and rationing (a cap of 20 liters per vehicle) across more than 20 regions. According to CNN and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) data, the global benchmark diesel price jumped nearly 13 percent on the day the ban was announced. The Russian government said the ban runs through July 31, with pre-existing committed shipments, including a deal with Mongolia, exempted. The restriction is tightening the fuel market just as global energy traders also brace for deeper disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, two forces that can pressure the prices of oil products relevant to Iran.
CNN · Jul 21, 2026
Global silver jumps more than 3% Tuesday to around $59, a one-week high
Silver climbed more than 3% in Tuesday's session (30 Tir 1405, 21 July 2026), reaching around $59 an ounce, and touched roughly $59.7 during the day, its highest in about a week. Some estimates put the daily gain at close to 5%. The main driver was a pause in the oil-price rally and market hopes that mediators could revive negotiations and a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, easing fears of energy-driven inflation and, in turn, the odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike, which supported precious metals. Technically, silver also broke the descending trendline of the past several weeks. Silver had fallen about 9% over the previous month but remains roughly 50% higher than a year ago. Tuesday's advance came alongside global gold's return above $4,000 an ounce.
FXStreet · Jul 21, 2026
Pentagon says nearly 100 US troops injured since strikes on Iran resumed
The Pentagon said on Monday, 20 July 2026, that nearly 100 US service members have suffered some degree of injury since the United States resumed strikes on Iran on 7 July (16 Tir). Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said most of the injuries were minor concussions and that about 96 percent of those affected had returned to duty. The figure was released amid the continuing exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran and rising tension around the Strait of Hormuz. The intensity and persistence of the confrontation is one of the key drivers of swings in Iran's currency and gold markets and of global oil prices, and investors track it as a gauge of whether the crisis is escalating or easing.
The Irish Times · Jul 21, 2026
Tehran Stock Exchange index climbs 74,000 points on Tuesday to 4.89 million
Tehran's benchmark index closed Tuesday, 30 Tir 1405 (21 July 2026), up 74,046 points, or 1.54 percent, at 4,887,551. The equal weighted index also rose about 26,000 points, a sign the gains were not confined to large caps but reached the broader market, with roughly 94 percent of symbols finishing higher. According to exchange board data, retail turnover in shares, rights offerings and equity funds reached about 11,492 billion tomans, and close to 3.7 trillion tomans of net real money inflow entered the equity market. The advance came even as markets stayed sensitive to the war and to swings in the currency and gold, with part of equity demand typically reflecting inflation expectations.
روزنامه تعادل · Jul 21, 2026
US stock futures rise on Tuesday as corporate earnings season gets underway
Futures on the main US stock indexes rose ahead of Tuesday's session, 30 Tir 1405 (21 July 2026): Dow Jones futures were up about 0.4 percent, S&P 500 futures about 0.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures about 1.4 percent. Investors are entering the heart of the corporate earnings season: General Motors and 3M report on Tuesday, while Alphabet, Tesla and IBM are due later in the week. Markets continue to track the US-Iran war; reports of a proposed 10-day ceasefire and a modest pullback in oil prices in early Tuesday trading helped improve risk appetite. For Iran's market, the direction of Wall Street and expectations for Federal Reserve interest rates matter through the channel of the dollar and global gold.
CNBC · Jul 21, 2026
Spot gold edges higher on Tuesday, holding above $4,000 but still near a nine-month low
Spot gold edged higher on Tuesday, 30 Tir 1405 (21 July 2026), trading in a roughly $4,020 to $4,045 range depending on the source, about half a percent to one percent above the previous day. Despite the small gain, gold remained close to its lowest level in nine months. The main pressure on gold comes from firming expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike: a jump in oil prices amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis has revived concerns about energy-driven inflation and pushed US Treasury yields higher. Gold pays no yield, so higher interest rates typically dim its appeal. Moves in the global ounce feed directly into domestic gold and coin prices in Iran, and from there into households' asset markets.
اقتصاد آنلاین · Jul 21, 2026
Bitcoin hit a two-week high near $65,500 on Tuesday; Ethereum topped $1,900
The cryptocurrency market rose on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. Bitcoin gained about 0.8 percent to a two-week high near $65,500, and Ethereum rose about 1.5 percent to move above $1,900. According to CoinDesk, the advance came alongside a rebound in Asian chipmaker stocks and improving risk appetite in markets. Despite the price gains, the crypto Fear and Greed Index remained in extreme fear territory at 25. U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds have logged five straight trading days of inflows totaling more than $600 million. Traders view the Federal Reserve's late-July meeting as the next test for the market. In Iran's domestic market, tether is the main reference for crypto trading and moves in step with the free-market dollar rate.
CoinDesk · Jul 21, 2026
Tanker and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz falls to its lowest in months
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid the escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States. According to vessel-tracking data cited by CNN on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, only about 9 vessels passed through the waterway in the latest 24-hour window, compared with a pre-conflict daily average of roughly 130. Since the ceasefire collapsed around early July, at least seven commercial ships transiting the strait have been struck. About one fifth of the world's consumed crude oil passes through the strait, and the steep drop in traffic, together with a surge in tanker war-risk insurance premiums and the temporary suspension of major shipping lines, has added pressure to the energy supply chain and global oil prices.
CNN · Jul 21, 2026
Free-market dollar rose about 0.8 percent on Tuesday, back near 189,000 tomans
The free-market US dollar in Tehran moved higher on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 (30 Tir 1405). It was recorded near 187,700 tomans before the market opened and by midday had risen about 0.8 percent from the prior day to around 189,300 tomans, based on live market tracking. The increase followed a pullback of roughly 5,000 tomans on Monday, 20 July. The dollar's weekly chart still shows a gain of about 2 percent, and its recent high was around 194,500 tomans on Saturday, 18 July. The currency market has stayed volatile amid the military tensions between Iran and the United States and regional instability.
فرارو · Jul 21, 2026
Gold and Coins Retreat on Tuesday, July 21; Emami Coin Near 182 Million Tomans, 18-Karat Gram Around 18.1 Million
Iran's gold and coin market edged lower on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (30 Tir 1405). According to the daily Donya-e-Eqtesad, the full Bahar Azadi (Emami) gold coin traded at around 182 million tomans and the half coin at about 92.5 million tomans during the session, both slightly below Monday, July 20, when the Emami coin had ranged between 183 and 185 million tomans. A gram of 18-karat gold was priced at roughly 18.1 million tomans on Tuesday. The domestic pullback tracked a swing in the global gold ounce around the 4,000 dollar area (near its lowest level in several months) and a relatively calmer currency market, with the free-market dollar hovering around 189,000 tomans the same day. Domestic gold prices are a product of the global ounce and the exchange rate, and those two variables set the daily direction of the coin market.
روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد · Jul 21, 2026
Global gold slips to about $4,008 on Tuesday, near a nine-month low
Spot gold slipped to around $4,008 an ounce on Tuesday, 21 July, holding just above the $4,000 mark and near its lowest level in nine months. The metal is down about 4 percent over the past month. Even as the US-Iran war continues, the jump in oil prices has raised inflation concerns and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer, a factor that weighs on gold and has kept safe-haven buying tied to geopolitical tension from lifting prices. Silver held firmer than gold the same day. The global gold price is the main benchmark for Iran's domestic gold and coin market.
Mining.com · Jul 21, 2026
Indian rupee slips to two-month low as oil above $90 weighs
The Indian rupee slid to around 96.5 per dollar as oil prices jumped on West Asia tensions, reaching its weakest level in two months by Monday, 20 July. Brent crude hovered near $90 the same day. India is one of the world's largest oil importers, and higher oil prices increase demand for dollars to pay for imports. The Reserve Bank of India has intervened in the spot and non-deliverable forward markets to support the rupee. India is an important trading partner of Iran and a destination for part of the region's commerce.
Business Recorder · Jul 21, 2026
Asian stocks rise on Tuesday, July 21, as Nikkei gains 2.2% and chipmakers rebound
Asia-Pacific stock markets rose on Tuesday, July 21, gaining for the first time in four days. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 1.7 percent, benchmark equity gauges in South Korea and Taiwan each rose more than 2.5 percent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 added 2.2 percent as trading resumed after a Monday holiday. The advance was led mainly by chipmakers, with Samsung Electronics and TSMC among the biggest contributors, while a pullback in oil prices helped improve risk appetite. The gains followed last week's slump, when the Nikkei fell about 6.4 percent on Friday. Investors are now awaiting earnings from technology megacaps this week for signs of whether the AI-driven rally can continue. The direction of Asian markets follows global risk sentiment and oil prices, and also feeds into expectations in Iran's market.
Investing.com · Jul 21, 2026
Brent slips toward $89 on Tuesday as mediation hopes ease war pressure on oil
Crude oil prices edged lower early on Tuesday, July 21, pulling back from the previous session's highest levels in over a month. Brent crude futures for September delivery fell about 35 cents, or 0.4 percent, to around $88.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate held near $82.47, little changed. On Monday, July 20, Brent had climbed above $90 as the intensifying U.S. and Iran conflict and disruption to Strait of Hormuz traffic tightened the supply outlook. The pullback was tied to reports that mediators are seeking a ten-day pause in the fighting and to Tehran's confirmation that it had received diplomatic proposals. Even so, reduced tanker traffic through Hormuz and a threatened naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis kept a floor under prices. Swings in oil feed directly into Iran's export revenue, budget and currency expectations.
CNBC · Jul 21, 2026
Oman drafts a Strait of Hormuz traffic framework as Araghchi holds Muscat talks
As mediation efforts to revive a ceasefire continued, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart in Muscat on Saturday, with the talks reported to focus on the Strait of Hormuz. A source told CNN that Oman has drafted a tentative proposal to manage and monitor shipping traffic through the strait. According to reports, three negotiating tracks are running in parallel: indirect US-Iran talks mediated by Qatar in Doha, discussions on the nuclear timeline, and the Hormuz traffic-monitoring framework being drafted in Muscat. The strait has become the central sticking point, because fully reopening it could ease pressure on the oil market and on Iran's exchange rate.
Gulf News · Jul 21, 2026
IRGC says two tankers disabled in Strait of Hormuz as Brent tops $90
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday, July 20, 2026, that it had disabled two oil tankers that tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission, using what it called an unsafe route. According to the IRGC, both vessels were left immobilized after explosions. The British military separately reported seeing a ship on fire near the Omani coast in the strait. The incident came amid the continuing nightly US strikes on Iran, with traffic through Hormuz already at a near standstill. Oil prices climbed further on the news, with Brent crude topping $90 a barrel for the first time since June 11. Roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, so any disruption feeds directly into Iran's foreign-currency earnings and domestic markets.
NPR · Jul 21, 2026
US stocks reversed intraday gains to close slightly lower Monday
US equities closed slightly lower on Monday, July 20 (29 Tir). The S&P 500 slipped 0.19 percent to 7,443.28, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 307 points (0.59 percent) to 51,839.26, and the Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.05 percent to 25,508.07. After turning higher at midday on a recovery in chipmaker shares and diplomatic signals from Tehran, the market gave back part of its gains as rising oil prices, driven by fresh military exchanges between the US and Iran, weighed on sentiment into the close. Investors are focused on the megacap technology earnings season and the Federal Reserve meeting on July 29 (7 Mordad).
CNBC · Jul 21, 2026
US begins 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran; Shiraz and Khomein among new targets
US forces began a tenth consecutive night of air strikes on Iran at around midnight Tehran time on Tuesday, 30 Tir (4 p.m. Monday US Eastern time). US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the stated aim was to further degrade Iran's military capability to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Shiraz and Sirik in the south and in Khomein in central Iran. According to CBS News, the fresh round follows the killing of three US service members and the wounding of nearly 100 in recent weeks. A US official told Axios that talks between the two countries were continuing even as the strikes went ahead. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would pay "many times over" for every US service member killed. The continuing conflict and the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz have been the main driver of recent weeks' surge in global oil and gold prices and the sharp swings in Iran's currency market.
CBS News · Jul 21, 2026
Iran Rejects Implementing 14-Point Deal; 10-Day Ceasefire Proposal Would Lift Strait of Hormuz Restrictions
Mediators on Monday, July 20, 2026, presented Iran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire to lower tensions with the United States and return to talks on last month's interim deal. According to Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, the plan would also include lifting restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would not implement the 14-point agreement after what he called Washington's violation of it. The White House stopped short of committing to a halt in strikes, with a US official saying Donald Trump is focused on making Iran pay for its breaches of the memorandum and its actions in the Strait of Hormuz, while adding that diplomacy remains open. The developments came as US strikes on Iran continued for a ninth consecutive night. The fate of the proposal matters directly to Iranian markets, since a prolonged war keeps a high risk premium on oil, gold and the currency.
CNN · Jul 21, 2026
Tehran's housing market cools in July; some owners cut asking prices 10 to 15%
Tehran's housing market cooled further in July 2026. According to field reports, a number of owners who need liquidity have cut their asking prices by 10 to 15%, and some have retreated from prices set two months earlier. Analysts say the sudden price jump at the start of this Iranian year pushed the market into stagnation and thin trading. Prices remain high overall, however: the average asking price per square meter is estimated at about 248 million tomans in districts 6 and 7 of central Tehran, about 176 million tomans in eastern Tehran for mid size units over 10 years old, and about 114.8 million tomans in southern Tehran. It is now hard to find an apartment below 100 million tomans per square meter in almost any part of Tehran.
دنیای اقتصاد · Jul 20, 2026
Pakistan's inflation eases to 11% in June; fiscal-year growth reaches 3.7%
Pakistan's annual inflation eased to 11% in June 2026, down from a two year high of 11.7% in May, although food inflation accelerated to 9.4%. The State Bank of Pakistan's policy rate now stands at 11.5%. Official data showed Pakistan's economy grew 3.7% in the fiscal year ending in June, its fastest pace in four years, though short of target. The International Monetary Fund has warned against premature rate cuts and stressed a data dependent approach. The state of Pakistan's economy and rupee, as Iran's neighbor, affects cross border trade between the two countries.
Dawn · Jul 20, 2026
Egypt's Suez Canal benefits from Hormuz closure; cumulative losses reach $10.5 billion
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has unexpectedly increased traffic through the Red Sea and Egypt's Suez Canal, as part of energy shipments take the alternative route; oil tanker transits through the canal rose by about one third in April. Even so, the Suez Canal still suffers from years of Red Sea insecurity, with throughput still 50 to 60% below 2024 levels. Egyptian officials have said cumulative losses from the disruption to canal traffic reached about $10.5 billion. Egypt hopes canal revenue will recover to around $8 billion in the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year. The development shows how the Hormuz crisis is reshaping global trade and energy routes.
Egypt Today · Jul 20, 2026
Standard Chartered: 2026 is the year of Ethereum; renews $100,000 bitcoin year-end target
Standard Chartered said in a new report that it believes 2026 will be "the year of Ethereum" and expects ether to outperform bitcoin, citing Ethereum's role in stablecoins, tokenized real world assets and decentralized finance. The bank reaffirmed its $100,000 year-end 2026 target for bitcoin, but cut its end 2026 ether target to $7,500 from $12,000, while raising its longer term outlook and lifting its end 2030 target to $40,000. The comments circulated on 19 and 20 July 2026. The crypto market matters to Iranian traders through tether and bitcoin.
The Block · Jul 20, 2026
China iron ore and rebar prices fall on Monday as seasonal lull cuts steel demand
Iron ore and steel prices on China's exchanges fell on Monday, 20 July 2026. Iron ore futures slipped 0.33% to 759.5 yuan per tonne and, despite the daily drop, are up about 2.7% over the past month and remain near a one month high. Steel rebar futures fell 1.03% to 3,070 yuan per tonne, retreating from a one month high. Rain in southern China and intense heat in the north have slowed construction and steel consumption, and blast furnace utilization has dropped below 90%. These prices matter for Iran's steel exporters and the steel tickers on the Tehran bourse.
Trading Economics · Jul 20, 2026
Dubai's DP World advances plan for new Fujairah port to bypass the Strait of Hormuz
Dubai's DP World is advancing a plan to build a new deep water port and container terminal at Fujairah on the UAE's east coast, to provide an alternative route outside the Strait of Hormuz and reduce Dubai's dependence on its flagship Jebel Ali hub. According to reports published in mid July 2026, the project's initial investment is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and its first phase could be operational within about 18 months of final approval. During the crisis and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, activity at Jebel Ali, one of the world's busiest container ports, reportedly fell 90 to 95%. The plan is part of the UAE's strategy to cut reliance on the Hormuz chokepoint.
Enterprise · Jul 20, 2026
Asian LNG prices jump amid Hormuz crisis; JKM benchmark hits about $21
Spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Asia have risen sharply amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the continued force majeure on Qatar's exports. The Japan Korea Marker (JKM) rose 5.32% from the previous day to about $20.99 per million BTU on Friday, 17 July 2026. The benchmark is up roughly 37% over the past month and nearly 75% from a year ago. Qatar, one of the world's largest LNG exporters, has extended force majeure on part of its shipments. Higher Asian gas prices increase pressure on major importers such as China, Japan and South Korea and are tied to the energy crisis stemming from Iran US tensions.
Trading Economics · Jul 20, 2026
World Gold Council: central banks keep buying gold; gold becomes the world's largest reserve asset
According to the latest World Gold Council data in July 2026, official sector demand for gold has stayed strong in the opening months of the year, and the Council forecasts that the world's central banks will buy roughly 850 tonnes of gold in 2026. In its annual survey, 89% of reserve managers expect global central bank gold holdings to rise over the next 12 months, and a record 45% said their own institution's reserves would increase. In May, Poland added 18 tonnes (64 tonnes year to date), Kazakhstan 7 tonnes and Singapore 4 tonnes. Gold has now overtaken US Treasuries to become the world's largest reserve asset. This trend is a key pillar supporting the global gold price, which also drives Iran's gold and coin market.
World Gold Council · Jul 20, 2026
European markets close cautiously on Monday; London's FTSE 100 falls 0.69%
European stock markets closed cautiously and mostly slightly lower on Monday, 20 July 2026, as investors weighed a jump in oil prices, a slide in AI related shares, and the wait for US big tech earnings. London's FTSE 100 fell 0.69% to about 10,527 points. The pan European STOXX 600 also edged lower, closing near 642, while Germany's DAX was little changed. Energy names such as TotalEnergies gained on higher oil, while AI linked stocks stayed under selling pressure. For Iran's market, the direction of European equities alongside oil prices feeds into global inflation expectations and the interest rate path.
Big News Network · Jul 20, 2026
Nasdaq and S&P 500 climb Monday as chip stocks rebound from a volatile week
US stocks rose during Monday's session (20 July) as chip stocks recovered from last week's sharp selloff. As of 11:49 a.m. Eastern time, the Nasdaq Composite was up about 0.58 percent and the S&P 500 roughly 0.28 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.24 percent to about 52,023 points. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which had fallen into bear-market territory on Friday, gained about 2.3 percent, with memory-chip makers leading the recovery. Alphabet (Google) added roughly 2.9 percent after a report that it is developing a Gemini-integrated server chip, helping lift the indexes. The market heads into a busy week of second-quarter earnings, with Alphabet, Tesla, Intel and IBM all due to report. The backdrop was the intensifying US-Iran military tensions and sharp swings in oil prices, which investors are watching closely.
Reuters · Jul 20, 2026
Indian stocks fall on higher oil and West Asia tensions; Sensex down 0.57%
The BSE Sensex closed down 443 points, or 0.57%, at 77,708 on Monday, July 20, 2026, while the Nifty 50 slipped 96 points, or 0.39%, to 24,238. Rising crude oil and West Asia tensions weighed on the market. Brent traded around 88 dollars during the session and the Indian rupee changed hands near 96.45 to the dollar. By sector, the state-run (PSU) bank index rose 2.78% while the private bank index dropped 2.27%. India is one of the world's largest oil importers and is highly sensitive to energy prices and the Strait of Hormuz route.
HDFC Sky · Jul 20, 2026
Chinese stocks rise on signs of state support; Shanghai Composite up 0.85%
The Shanghai Composite index closed 0.85% higher at 3,796 points on Monday, July 20, 2026, while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.71% to 13,610 points. The gains followed statements by two state-owned firms that they had recently spent about 60 billion yuan (nearly 8.9 billion dollars) buying stocks, helping to support the market even as tech shares extended their slide. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so the direction of its equity and currency markets matters for Iran's economy.
Business Recorder · Jul 20, 2026
Mediators offer Iran a 10-day ceasefire to revive interim deal with the US
Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, reported on Monday, July 20, 2026 that mediators had passed Tehran a proposal involving a 10-day ceasefire to find a way to revive the interim deal reached last month between Iran and the United States. The 14-point interim agreement struck in June envisaged a halt to hostilities, the resumption of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and up to 60 days of talks toward a final accord. It stalled over differing interpretations of its provisions, the revocation of waivers for Iranian oil exports, and disputes over Iran's frozen assets. Reuters said it was not immediately clear whether Tehran had accepted the proposal. The report coincided with Brent crude pulling back from around 90 dollars and a modest improvement in global risk appetite.
Al-Monitor · Jul 20, 2026