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Short, verified market news summaries; every item names its source and publication date.
Analysts: Iran's gas fields and petrochemical industry are its most vulnerable economic link in the war
According to an analysis by Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, Iran's oil sector can likely weather a temporary production shut-in, but its gas fields and petrochemical industry are the most vulnerable link in the country's economy during the current war. The shared South Pars field supplies roughly 70 to 75 percent of Iran's gas production and feeds much of the country's petrochemical and gasoline output. According to Argus, onshore processing facilities at South Pars and petrochemical complexes in the Asaluyeh area were damaged in air strikes this year, with estimates pointing to a fall of about 100,000 to 120,000 barrels a day in gas-condensate output. Petrochemicals are a pillar of Iran's non-oil exports and among the heaviest-weighted sectors on the Tehran Stock Exchange, so lasting damage to the gas and petrochemical chain could pressure both the country's foreign-currency earnings and the valuation of a large part of the bourse.
Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy · Jul 19, 2026
War and power crisis cripple Iran's steel output as Mobarakeh and Khouzestan Steel fall idle
According to a report by the analytics firm GMK Center, the Iran-US war and damage to the power grid have sharply reduced Iran's steel production capacity. The country's two largest electricity consumers, Mobarakeh Steel in Isfahan and Khouzestan Steel, have effectively fallen out of production after being hit by air strikes; Mobarakeh previously drew about 1,400 megawatts and Khouzestan about 600. The first damage to these complexes dates back to the air strikes of March 27, which targeted their power infrastructure and storage. On these estimates, returning Mobarakeh to its pre-war capacity could take about four years. Steel is among the heaviest-weighted sectors on the Tehran Stock Exchange and a major Iranian non-oil export; the halt at these two large complexes affects both domestic steel supply and the country's foreign-currency earnings.
GMK Center · Jul 19, 2026
Gulf bourses stay subdued on Sunday as Saudi index edges higher
Gulf stock markets traded subdued and cautious on Sunday, July 19, 2026, as Iran and the United States exchanged missile and drone strikes and the Strait of Hormuz stayed closed. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (TASI) edged up about 0.1 percent, helped by a roughly 0.2 percent rise in Aramco shares, holding up better than most regional markets. Gulf investors remain worried about a widening of the conflict and its effect on oil exports and the regional economy. Most of these markets had also closed lower on Saturday, and the Saudi index fell for a third straight month in June.
Gulf Times · Jul 19, 2026
ANZ raises its 2026 Brent forecast to above 90 dollars a barrel
Australian bank ANZ has raised its forecast for the average 2026 price of Brent crude to above 90 dollars a barrel, citing the loss of roughly 10 million barrels a day of global supply because of the war and the continuing US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent rose above 87 dollars on Friday, July 17, its highest in a month, and gained more than 10 percent over the week. The naval blockade was reimposed on Tuesday, July 14, and commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains very limited. Any sustained jump in global oil prices has two opposing effects for Iran: it lifts the value of its oil exports, while also adding to domestic inflation by making fuel and imported goods more expensive.
OilPrice · Jul 19, 2026
US average gasoline price edges toward 4 dollars a gallon
According to data from AAA, the US national average price of regular gasoline reached 3.94 dollars a gallon as of July 16, 2026, up about 10 cents from the prior week and closing in on the 4 dollar mark. Most states still average below 4 dollars a gallon. AAA cited instability around the Strait of Hormuz as one of the main causes of the increase, a factor that has also lifted crude oil prices. Rising gasoline prices in the world's largest economy feed into inflation expectations and the path of Federal Reserve policy, and through that channel they indirectly matter for Iran's gold and currency markets as well.
AAA · Jul 19, 2026
Europe's diesel refining margins climb to their highest in years
According to Argus, diesel and gasoil refining margins in Europe have reached their highest in years, moving above roughly 60 dollars a barrel, prompting European refiners to shift their economics back toward producing road transport fuels. The main drivers are lower global supply of refined products, curbs on Russia's diesel exports and disruptions stemming from the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The average price of diesel across European Union countries in mid-July 2026 was around 1.75 euros per litre. The diesel shortage and costlier gasoil are an important global variable for the energy market and indirectly affect product prices and transport costs in import-dependent markets as well.
Argus Media · Jul 19, 2026
Suez Canal traffic rises as ships divert away from the Strait of Hormuz
The Suez Canal Authority projected that about 15,500 ships will transit the waterway this fiscal year, roughly 20 percent more than the 13,000 of a year earlier. The increase is largely a result of the Strait of Hormuz crisis; with traffic through Hormuz severely curtailed, part of the flow of energy cargoes and jet fuel has shifted to the Red Sea and Suez Canal route. The gradual return of ships to the Suez route, after a period in which insecurity around Bab al-Mandab had pushed many to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, shows global trade flows shifting away from the Persian Gulf. This rerouting raises the cost and time of moving goods to the region and is one of the crisis's indirect consequences for the economies of Iran and its neighbours.
Al Manassa · Jul 19, 2026
Central banks kept buying gold through its worst quarter since 2013
According to World Gold Council data, the world's central banks remained net buyers of gold through the second quarter of 2026 despite a sharp drop in the price (its steepest quarterly decline since 2013); net global purchases in May 2026 were reported at about 41 tonnes. Poland leads sovereign buyers with roughly 64 tonnes since the start of 2026, while China, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also kept buying. The trend shows that official reserve demand for gold remains firm over the medium term, even as the oil surge and worries over US interest-rate policy have pushed the price lower in the short term. For Iran's domestic market, where gold and coin prices track the global price and the exchange rate, the long-term direction of central-bank reserves is an important variable.
Kitco News · Jul 19, 2026
India's rupee slides near its record low as the oil shock bites
Driven by the surge in oil prices from the Strait of Hormuz crisis and heightened regional tensions, India's rupee slid by mid-July 2026 close to its record low, in the region of about 95.5 rupees per dollar. India imports roughly 85 percent of the oil it consumes, and costlier crude has widened the trade deficit and lifted importers' dollar demand. To slow the currency's decline, the Reserve Bank of India has repeatedly sold dollars in the spot and forward markets; on July 9, for example, dollar sales by state-run banks pulled the rupee back from about 95.55 to 95.49. The pressure on the rupee mirrors the same strain this oil surge places on the rial and other oil-importing nations' currencies.
India Infoline · Jul 19, 2026
IATA: jet fuel surge to halve global airline industry profit in 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said regional disruptions and the surge in jet fuel prices will roughly halve the global airline industry's profit in 2026, cutting it from 45 billion dollars in 2025 to about 23 billion dollars, while the net profit margin falls from 4.2 percent to around 2 percent. Fuel's share of some carriers' operating costs has risen from about 25 to 30 percent to close to 45 percent. In response to this pressure, carriers such as Air France KLM have raised fuel surcharges on long-haul flights, with the charge exceeding 100 euros per ticket on some transatlantic routes. The root cause is the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the drop in refined-product supply, which has sharply lifted the global price of jet fuel.
IATA · Jul 19, 2026
Iran's oil discount to China widens; unsold Iranian crude on the water rises to around 120 million barrels
With China's independent "teapot" refiners buying cautiously and favoring cheaper Qatari, Iraqi and UAE crude, unsold Iranian oil has been piling up at sea. According to tanker-tracking data cited by Bloomberg, roughly 70 million barrels of Iranian oil sit on tankers near Chinese ports and in floating storage near Malaysia and Singapore awaiting discharge, and total Iranian oil on the water, including floating storage, is estimated at nearly 120 million barrels. The discount on Iranian crude to the Brent benchmark has widened to more than $6 a barrel for October-loading cargoes. The trend adds to the pressure on Iran's oil revenue.
Bloomberg (via Yahoo Finance) · Jul 19, 2026
Russia's ruble firms on Iran-war oil revenue, becoming one of the year's best-performing currencies
Higher oil and gas prices following the disruption of Persian Gulf energy exports have lifted Russia's foreign-currency revenue and supported the ruble. The dollar traded at about 77.6 rubles on 17 July 2026, and the ruble has become one of the world's best-performing currencies against the dollar in 2026. Moscow channels part of the extra energy revenue into buying gold and foreign currency under its fiscal rule, preventing the ruble from strengthening too much. Russia has been one of the main winners from the redirection of global energy flows during the Iran war, as major buyers turned to Russian oil to replace lost regional supply.
ThePrint · Jul 19, 2026
Japan's US LNG imports hit one of the highest levels on record in July as it replaces Qatari cargoes
With Qatari LNG exports disrupted by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Japan has sharply increased its imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States. According to Kpler data cited by news agencies, Japan's US LNG imports are expected to reach about 940,000 tonnes in July 2026, the third-highest on record and almost 15 times the 60,000 tonnes of February, the last month before the conflict began. Asian buyers, who take more than 80% of Qatar's exports, have turned to the US, the world's largest LNG exporter, to cover the shortfall.
The Star (Reuters) · Jul 19, 2026
US dollar index firms on safe-haven demand from the Iran war
The intensifying US-Iran conflict in the week to 17 July 2026 boosted demand for the dollar as a safe haven and helped support it. According to Reuters, the US dollar index (DXY) stood at about 100.78 on Friday. Safe-haven flows offset an earlier drop in the index that week driven by fading odds of a rate hike, though the dollar still ended the week down about 0.2%. For Iran's market, a stronger global dollar is typically one of the pressures on the rial's exchange rate.
Reuters · Jul 19, 2026
US two-year Treasury yield hits 16-month high as oil surges
The oil price surge tied to US-Iran tensions lifted inflation expectations in the US bond market and pushed Treasury yields higher. According to CNBC, the US two-year Treasury yield reached its highest level in more than 16 months in mid-July 2026, reviving speculation about Federal Reserve tightening. At Friday's close on 17 July, the 10-year yield stood at about 4.55% and the two-year at about 4.18%. Still, US consumer inflation rose less than expected in June and producer prices unexpectedly fell, painting a mixed picture of price pressures.
CNBC · Jul 19, 2026
Wall Street ends Friday lower; Nasdaq drops over 1.8% as S&P 500 books first losing week in three
US stock indexes closed lower on Friday, 17 July 2026, with the S&P 500 down 1.15%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average off 0.98% and the Nasdaq down 1.81%. The slide left the S&P 500 with its first losing week in the last three. A steep sell-off in semiconductor shares and worries over the US-Iran war drove the selling. US crude climbed more than 13% over the week to around $81 a barrel; the oil jump lifted Treasury yields and weighed on equities.
The Washington Post (AP) · Jul 19, 2026
Tether freezes about $131 million in crypto linked to Iran's central bank
After the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added four wallets tied to Iran's central bank to its sanctions list on 14 July 2026, Tether froze about $131 million of USDT stablecoin held in those wallets. According to published reports, the move brought the total blocked USDT linked to Iran's central bank to roughly $475 million. Because Tether controls the USDT contracts, it can block an address and halt transfers of its tokens, even though the balance remains visible on the public blockchain. The sanctions followed the collapse of the ceasefire and the resumption of strikes.
Decrypt · Jul 19, 2026
India's reliance on Russian oil hits a record as the Hormuz route's share falls to about 30%
India's crude oil imports hit a record of around 5 million barrels per day in June, with purchases of Russian oil surging to an all-time high of about 2.6 million barrels per day, equal to 54 percent of total imports. In the first half of July, Russian flows held near 2.5 million barrels per day, keeping Russia's share close to 50 percent. Before the West Asia crisis began in February, nearly 50 percent of India's imported crude came from the region, mostly via the Strait of Hormuz; but as Hormuz risk intensified, that share fell to about 30 percent, with Russian crude taking its place. Analysts warn that continued disruption of Persian Gulf exports would sharpen competition for Russian cargoes and push India's oil import bill higher.
ThePrint · Jul 19, 2026
The Hormuz-driven oil surge has revived market bets on a Fed rate hike
The sharp rise in oil prices triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis has flipped market expectations for US monetary policy: instead of a rate cut, investors are now pricing in a possible rate hike. According to CME's FedWatch tool, the odds of higher rates have climbed to around 60 percent for the September meeting and about 46 percent for the July 29 meeting. This comes even as inflation data ran softer than expected; the producer price index unexpectedly fell 0.3 percent in June, for an annual rate of 5.5 percent. But concern that the oil surge will feed into inflation has offset the cooler reading. The 10-year US Treasury yield stood near 4.55 percent on Friday, July 17, and the dollar index held close to 101. This unusual dynamic has also capped gold's safe-haven bid; spot gold, down more than 3 percent the prior week, hovered around 4,000 dollars an ounce.
CNBC · Jul 19, 2026
Turkey's central bank keeps its policy rate at 37% as the Iran war slows disinflation
Turkey's central bank has kept its easing cycle on hold, leaving the policy rate at 37 percent, the highest among G20 economies. It has now held for three straight meetings since March, as the energy price shock from the Iran-US war has delayed the fall in inflation. Annual inflation, which had eased from a peak near 85 percent to around 32 percent, ticked back up, rising from 30.9 percent in December 2025 to about 32.4 percent in April 2026. In its mid-May quarterly report the bank raised its end-2026 inflation forecast to 24 percent from 16 percent, calling the war's short-term effect "pronounced." Governor Fatih Karahan said in mid-July that disinflation was "on course," but that the bank would wait for the July inflation reading and greater clarity on the war before resuming rate cuts. Turkey imports roughly 25 percent of its gas from Iran, leaving it exposed to the region's energy tensions. The lira traded around 47 to the dollar at the end of the week.
Daily Sabah · Jul 19, 2026
Turkey's central bank became the world's largest official gold seller in 2026, selling about 81 tonnes net to defend the lira
According to reports carried by Turkish media, Turkey's central bank has become the world's largest official seller of gold in 2026. Over the first five months of the year the bank sold about 81 tonnes of gold on a net basis from its reserves, using the proceeds to supply dollar liquidity and defend the lira against external shocks. Pressure on the lira intensified after the Iran war began on February 28, 2026, and the resulting energy-price surge drove the currency to a fresh record low. The central bank first spent roughly US$26 billion of its foreign exchange reserves supporting the lira and, when that proved insufficient, turned to selling and swapping more than 127 tonnes of gold in the weeks that followed; its currency interventions peaked at close to US$60 billion. Turkey's gold reserves had climbed to a record 823.5 tonnes in the week ending March 6 before starting to decline. The trend shows that, rather than serving as a safe haven during the war, gold became Ankara's defensive tool for containing the lira's slide. The lira is an important regional variable for Iran's market, since part of the trade and commodity pricing between the two countries is linked to it.
Türkiye Today · Jul 19, 2026
Global gold ETFs closed H1 2026 with US$8 billion of net inflows; physical holdings reached 4,047 tonnes
According to the latest World Gold Council report, global gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) closed the first half of 2026 with net inflows of about US$8 billion, a figure that stayed positive despite the sharp price swings of the period. Total assets under management reached roughly US$526 billion by the end of June, down about 6 percent since the start of the year on the lower gold price, yet the physical tonnage held rose by 18 tonnes to 4,047 tonnes. The picture diverged across regions: Asian funds recorded their strongest first half on record with US$12 billion of inflows, while North America was the only region to see outflows, posting its weakest first half since 2013 with US$7.7 billion withdrawn. Analysts tied those outflows to expectations that the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher to curb the energy-driven inflation of the Iran-US war. Global gold peaked at a record US$5,589.38 an ounce on January 28 before retreating during the Strait of Hormuz crisis, ending the first half near US$4,000 on June 30. Gold remains the reference asset for Iranian savers, and global capital flows into the metal also shape domestic expectations.
شورای جهانی طلا (World Gold Council) · Jul 19, 2026
Bitcoin near $64,900 as crypto trades like a risk asset amid the war and oil surge
Bitcoin traded near $64,900 on the morning of Sunday, July 19, 2026, slightly higher (about 0.3 percent) than the prior day. That level followed a volatile week in which bitcoin fell as US strikes on Iran resumed and oil prices jumped, dipping to the low $63,000s mid-week (around July 16 to 18). According to CoinDesk and Bloomberg, bitcoin behaved over the period more like a risk asset (moving with technology stocks) than a safe haven: as oil climbed and worries about sticky inflation and interest rates grew, cryptocurrencies fell alongside US equities (the Nasdaq dropped about 2.9 percent in the week to July 18), while gold held its ground. For an Iranian audience, cryptocurrencies and Tether in particular are a common channel for transferring and saving value under currency restrictions, so global bitcoin volatility together with a weakening rial shapes domestic demand.
CoinDesk · Jul 19, 2026
Global diesel refining margins hit a record; US diesel tops $5 a gallon again
As Strait of Hormuz traffic slowed to a near halt during the Iran-US war, a shortage of refined products has pushed the global market toward a fuel crisis and lifted refiners' margins to record highs. According to CNN Business, the refining-margin gauge known as the 3-2-1 crack spread rose to about $70 a barrel on Thursday, July 16, 2026, a record, while US diesel topped $5 a gallon the same day for the first time in three weeks. The key point is that most of the jump in product prices came not from crude itself (which rose about 5 percent over the period) but from tight refining capacity and disrupted product flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent traded in a range of $85 to $88 a barrel during the week. For Iran the significance is twofold: Iran is itself an importer of gasoline and diesel, so war damage to refineries and costlier products make domestic supply harder, while the global product price also shapes fuel export and smuggling dynamics.
CNN Business · Jul 19, 2026
Strike on Jask desalination plant cuts drinking water for about 10,000 people in southern Hormozgan
Officials in Iran's Hormozgan province said on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that a strike damaging a seawater desalination plant in the Bonji area of Jask County had cut off drinking water for about 10,000 people across nearly 20 coastal villages. According to the provincial water and wastewater company, the plant's seawater intake station and an electrical transformer were knocked out; the facility had a production capacity of about 3,150 cubic meters of water per day. The damage was reported during overnight strikes along Iran's southern coast, with temperatures in Hormozgan exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. US Central Command has not specifically addressed the reported damage and says its operations target military capabilities and threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials called the strike a humanitarian violation and said emergency measures such as trucking in water and drawing on limited groundwater were under way. Independent verification of the details remains difficult.
Daily Sabah · Jul 19, 2026
Persian Gulf tanker rates nearly double in a week; some supertankers' daily earnings approach $470,000
The renewed escalation between the US and Iran and the higher risk of transiting the Strait of Hormuz have sharply lifted crude-tanker freight rates in the Persian Gulf. According to shipping-market reports in the week ending July 17, 2026, the cost of hiring a tanker in the Gulf nearly doubled in just one week, from around $106,000 per day to more than $190,000. For some very large crude carriers (VLCCs) moving cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz, daily earnings have approached about $470,000. A steep drop in the number of ships willing to transit the region, together with surging war-risk insurance premiums, has tightened available shipping capacity. Higher freight costs raise the cost of exporting oil for Persian Gulf producers, including Iran, eating into part of the windfall from higher crude prices.
سیترید ماریتایم · Jul 19, 2026
Brent posts a third straight weekly gain, ending the week near $88 a barrel
Brent crude closed the week ending Friday, July 17, 2026, up nearly 12 percent, its third consecutive weekly gain, as the escalating US-Iran conflict and disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz pushed the global oil supply-risk premium higher. During Friday's session, Brent jumped about 4.5 percent from its prior close near $84 to around $88 a barrel. Global oil markets are shut on Saturday and Sunday, and traders are waiting for clarity on the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the coming week. For Iran's economy the surge cuts both ways: it lifts the dollar value of oil exports, while adding to domestic inflation by making global fuel and transport more expensive.
گلفتودی (رویترز) · Jul 19, 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz shut, Russia's oil revenue swells further from the Iran crisis
With the Strait of Hormuz shut and regional oil exports disrupted, Russia's Urals crude has become more attractive to buyers, boosting Moscow's oil revenue. The Bruegel think tank estimated that Russia's oil and gas revenues carried a windfall of about 1,184 billion rubles (close to 13.5 billion euros) tied to the Iran war over March to June 2026. That windfall had narrowed after the 14 June ceasefire memorandum and a temporary drop in prices, but with hostilities resuming in July and tanker transits through Hormuz halting again, analysts say the premium on Russian oil exports has widened once more. Russia is one of the alternative suppliers profiting from the Hormuz-driven rise in oil prices.
OilPrice · Jul 19, 2026
Iran's Energy Ministry urges a 10 percent cut in power use as heat and war damage strain the grid
Amid a heatwave and war-related damage to infrastructure, Iran's Energy Ministry asked consumers to cut their electricity use by at least 10 percent. According to the ministry, power demand is expected to exceed 75,500 megawatts in the coming days. It urged households to set air conditioners to 25 degrees Celsius, switch off unnecessary appliances and shift heavy usage away from peak hours. Average temperatures between 14 and 18 July 2026 were forecast at around 41 degrees Celsius. Mohammad Allah-Dad, chief executive of the state power company Tavanir, said parts of the country's critical electricity infrastructure had been seriously damaged and that grid capacity had fallen by about 4,200 megawatts.
Anadolu Agency · Jul 19, 2026
Most Persian Gulf stock markets fall as the Iran-US war escalates; Saudi bourse proves more resilient
As the Iran-US conflict escalated, most Persian Gulf stock markets fell in recent sessions. Abu Dhabi's index dropped 0.5 percent and Dubai's main index fell 0.3 percent, while Saudi Arabia's benchmark (TASI) eased 0.2 percent and oil major Aramco slid 1.1 percent. Even so, the Saudi bourse, helped by Red Sea export terminals that bypass the Strait of Hormuz and by deeper liquidity, was the only Gulf market where foreign institutional investors were still deploying capital. Qatar's stock exchange stayed closed following the death of the country's former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Analysts warn that Qatar's economy, heavily dependent on LNG exports via Hormuz, is more exposed than its regional peers if the crisis persists.
Business Recorder · Jul 19, 2026
European natural gas jumps more than 29 percent in July; Goldman Sachs warns of a possible 130 percent surge
The price of Dutch TTF natural gas, Europe's benchmark, jumped amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis and Qatar's halt to its LNG output ramp-up, reaching around 54.5 euros per megawatt-hour, the highest in more than three months. Market data show the benchmark has risen more than 29 percent in July 2026, erasing a decline of over 14 percent in the spring quarter. Qatar, the region's largest LNG exporter, halted its production increase and suspended maritime activity after one of its tankers was attacked near Hormuz. Goldman Sachs commodity analysts warned that if LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz were fully halted for a month, TTF could approach about 74 euros per megawatt-hour, roughly 130 percent above end-of-week levels. The channel to Iran is indirect: the same Hormuz disruption lifting European gas also chokes regional energy exports and hard-currency revenue.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 19, 2026
UN calls for restraint in the Strait of Hormuz crisis; IMO condemns attacks on ships
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, voicing deep concern over the escalating military confrontation in the Persian Gulf region, urged all parties to exercise "maximum restraint," refrain from further escalatory action and take immediate steps to de-escalate. He pointed to Iran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, US strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on targets in neighbouring countries, and stressed the need to return to dialogue. Separately, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz that killed at least two seafarers. The statements came in mid-July 2026 as transits through the strategic waterway all but halted and global energy markets came under strain.
JURIST · Jul 19, 2026
IEA: The Strait of Hormuz shock is the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global market
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a fresh analysis that the disruption from the Strait of Hormuz crisis has become the largest oil supply loss in the history of the global market, exceeding both the 1973 oil embargo and the 1990 Persian Gulf War shock in combined volume and duration. According to the assessment, oil transiting the strait fell from about 20 million barrels a day before the war to an average of roughly 2.7 million barrels a day over March to May 2026, while cumulative supply losses from regional producers have passed 1.3 billion barrels. After hostilities resumed in July, tanker transits dropped below 10 percent of pre-war levels. The agency's head called it the greatest global energy security challenge in history. Before the crisis, the Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of the world's oil and a large share of its LNG.
International Energy Agency · Jul 19, 2026
Asian LNG (JKM) climbs to highest since late March as Asian buyers scramble for cargoes to replace Qatar's
The Japan Korea Marker (JKM), Asia's main benchmark for liquefied natural gas, reached about 19.9 dollars per million British thermal units on Thursday, 16 July, a jump of roughly 18.5% on the day and a gain of nearly 26% over the past month, its highest level since late March. The main driver is the near-total halt of Qatar's LNG exports after fresh attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on some of its shipments to Asia and Europe, forcing North Asian buyers (China, Japan and South Korea) to seek pricier spot cargoes. The Persian Gulf supplies about one fifth of the world's gas, and cutting that flow is pushing the global spot market toward a fierce contest between European and Asian buyers.
Natural Gas Intelligence · Jul 19, 2026
China's Iranian Oil Imports Fall to About 556,000 bpd in July, Lowest Since Early 2023
China's imports of Iranian crude oil have averaged about 556,000 barrels per day so far in July 2026, the lowest level since early 2023, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. The figure is a further drop from an average of roughly 654,000 bpd in June. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so weaker Chinese purchases feed directly into Iran's export revenues. Beyond the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the halt of much tanker traffic, Kpler says subdued Chinese crude demand and narrowing sale discounts have also limited refiners' appetite to buy. Even so, Kpler expects China to remain Iran's principal oil customer. The figures reflect the month-to-date average as of the report and may change by month end.
Reuters · Jul 18, 2026
Iran Health Ministry: US strikes have killed at least 50 and wounded more than 500 since 6 July
Iran's Health Ministry said on Saturday, 18 July 2026, that US attacks on the country since 6 July have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500. According to the figures, the dead include 5 women and 2 children under the age of 18, while the wounded include 32 women and 18 children. The count is up from the ministry's earlier tally of 35 killed and 300 wounded. The figures were released hours after CENTCOM's seventh consecutive night of airstrikes on targets in Iran, which the command said struck surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.
Al Jazeera · Jul 18, 2026
CENTCOM: Two US service members killed in Jordan and one missing; US military death toll in the war rises to 16
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday, 18 July 2026, that two US service members were killed on Friday, 17 July, in Jordan while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks, and that a third is missing. According to the statement, four other personnel were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and later discharged, while several with minor injuries returned to duty. The deaths bring the US military toll in the current war with Iran to 16. CENTCOM said the identities of the fallen would be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin are notified. The announcement came alongside a seventh consecutive night of US airstrikes on military targets in Iran and continued Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states hosting US bases.
CBS News · Jul 18, 2026
Fresh Iranian attacks on Persian Gulf states on Saturday; Bahrain and Saudi Arabia issue shelter-in-place warnings
Continuing its response to US strikes and reacting to the hosting of US bases, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks against Washington's regional allies early on Saturday, July 18. According to reports, Jordan's air defenses intercepted a number of Iranian missiles and Kuwait also reported intercepting missiles. Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia issued shelter-in-place warnings to residents. Tehran had earlier warned its Persian Gulf neighbors that they would face a "corresponding response" if the United States continued to use bases in the region. The widening of the conflict to Persian Gulf states has increased concerns about energy security and the region's oil export routes.
CNN · Jul 18, 2026
Iran's Health Ministry: at least 35 killed and 300 wounded in recent US strikes
Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran's Health Ministry, said on Friday, July 17, that at least 35 people had been killed and 300 others wounded in US strikes on Iran this month. Iranian officials say US forces have carried out hundreds of air attacks across various parts of the country over the past week. The official toll was announced as nightly strikes continued and targeting widened to civilian infrastructure, including water and power facilities in the south of the country. The ongoing military conflict between Iran and the United States has increased pressure on the region's financial and energy markets and fueled rising prices in Iran's domestic currency and gold markets.
Deccan Herald · Jul 18, 2026
Senior IRGC commander warns of a full-scale offensive if US strikes continue for two or three more days
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned on Friday, July 17, that if US military strikes on Iran continue for another two or three days, Tehran will move into a phase of "full-scale offensive operations." The remarks came as the United States carried out a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iranian territory. According to a statement by US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes began around 19:00 GMT and used fighter aircraft, drones and warships to hit Iran's "surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities." Reported target locations included Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Ahvaz and Yazd. The recent military escalation between Iran and the United States has pressured Iran's domestic currency and gold markets and pushed global oil prices higher.
The Week · Jul 18, 2026
China's economy grew at its slowest pace since late 2022 in the second quarter of 2026 as the Iran war and oil prices weighed on growth
China's gross domestic product grew 4.3 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2026, its slowest quarterly pace since late 2022 and below the government's official target range of 4.5 to 5 percent. Data released in the week ending 15 July showed China's economy expanded 4.7 percent overall in the first half of 2026. According to reports, the Iran-US war and the surge in global oil prices, together with weak domestic demand, were cited as the main drivers of the slowdown. China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has cut its crude purchases in recent months in response to higher prices, a shift that bears directly on Iran's oil revenue. The figures matter for Iran's market through the channels of global oil demand and trade with Beijing.
CNN Business · Jul 18, 2026
Global gold ends the week down more than 3 percent as the Hormuz-driven oil surge weighs on the metal
Global gold fell more than 3 percent in the week ending Friday, 17 July 2026, one of its largest weekly declines in about six months, with the metal trading near 4,000 dollars an ounce on Friday and at its lowest level since November 2025. Contrary to gold's usual safe-haven behavior, the escalating Iran-US military tensions and the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz worked against the metal this time by way of higher oil prices. Brent crude rose nearly 12 percent over the past week, lifting inflation expectations and the odds that the US Federal Reserve keeps rates higher for longer and firming bond yields, all of which pressure gold. The dynamic matters for Iran's domestic market, where local gold and coin prices track both the global ounce and the exchange rate.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 18, 2026
Iran declares full suspension of its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum, accusing the US of violations
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, said on Saturday, 18 July 2026 that Iran had suspended all of its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, accusing the United States of violating the agreement. He said the US had violated and suspended all of its own commitments within the framework, and that Iran had likewise suspended its commitments and was no longer implementing them. The memorandum, signed last month under Pakistani mediation, reportedly comprised 14 points, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the US naval blockade and beginning a phased de-escalation. The suspension came after seven consecutive nights of US strikes and waves of Iranian missile and drone responses. The unraveling of this diplomatic framework carries direct weight for domestic markets: on the same Saturday, 27 Tir, the free-market dollar closed above 193,000 tomans and Tehran's main stock index ended down more than 2 percent.
ANI News · Jul 18, 2026
International airlines extend Gulf flight suspensions as EASA advises avoiding regional airspace
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised airlines from 14 July 2026 to avoid Persian Gulf airspace, particularly over Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, citing missile and drone risks. Several major European carriers, including Lufthansa and Swiss, have extended their flight suspensions to Dubai into mid-September, and British Airways has delayed its phased return to the region. By contrast, Persian Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways have kept their flights running and asked passengers to check flight status before traveling. The main constraint is not airport closures but aircraft having to route around high-risk air corridors. The continued US-Iran war is keeping travel and air logistics across the whole region, including routes linked to Iran, under pressure.
The National · Jul 18, 2026
Egypt raised Suez Canal transit surcharges from 15 July as ships reroute away from Hormuz
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority raised transit surcharges from 15 July 2026 for most vessel types, including tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships. The decision comes as canal traffic rises, with the Strait of Hormuz crisis steering some ships toward Egyptian-controlled waters. According to official data, Egypt's Suez Canal revenue reached about $419 million in April, roughly 27 percent higher than a year earlier and the highest monthly level since the start of 2024. The number of oil tankers transiting the canal in the early months of the year rose about 28 percent from the same period last year. The trend shows how the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is reshaping global energy routes and the revenues of countries on alternative paths.
Maritime News · Jul 18, 2026
Pakistan's weekly inflation stays above 13% as the Hormuz crisis lifts fuel and staple prices
Pakistan's Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) stayed at 13.09 percent year on year in the week ending 16 July 2026, as the continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the US-Iran war strained the global oil supply chain. Pakistan's annual inflation rate eased to 11.0 percent in June, slightly below 11.7 percent in May. Elevated global oil prices have fed into domestic petrol, diesel and LPG rates and raised transport costs for perishable goods. The petrol price in Pakistan rose to 310.71 rupees per litre from 11 July, and authorities now review fuel prices weekly. The situation shows how the energy crisis stemming from regional tensions is pressuring the economies of Iran's neighbours.
The Express Tribune · Jul 18, 2026
India's fuel exports hit a near 10-month high as refiners lean on Russian crude
India's exports of refined petroleum products reached a near 10-month high by mid-July 2026, as supply shortages caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis lifted refiners' margins. Indian refiners imported about 2.6 million barrels a day of Russian crude this month, more than half of the country's total oil imports. At the same time, India's crude imports from West Asia fell in the second quarter to their lowest recorded level since 2013, according to Kpler vessel-tracking data. Indian refiners say they have secured enough crude for the next two months and are in no rush to resume West Asian purchases, even if transits through the Strait of Hormuz normalize. The shift matters for Iran, because India is one of Asia's key oil markets and the competition among sanctioned exporters such as Russia and Iran for Asian buyers is intensifying.
Business Today · Jul 18, 2026
Iran's currency and gold markets close higher on Saturday, July 18; free-market dollar above 193,000 toman and 18-carat gold jumps more than 3 percent
Iran's free-market currency and gold markets closed higher on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as military tension and fears over the Strait of Hormuz crisis persisted. By Saturday evening the free-market dollar traded around 193,200 toman, up about 2.4 percent on the day and near its all-time record. Tether in the domestic market stood around 193,000 toman, moving in line with the free dollar. In the gold market, each gram of 18-carat gold jumped more than 3.6 percent to around 18.9 million toman, while the Emami coin rose nearly 1.9 percent to around 188.5 million toman. The rally is attributed mainly to the weakening rial and the wartime climate, while the global gold price had settled around 4,000 dollars an ounce at the end of last week.
اقتصاد آنلاین · Jul 18, 2026
Pakistan says its mediation between Iran and the US remains alive
Pakistan said its efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States remain alive despite the renewed fighting between the two sides. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate phone calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, urged restraint and an immediate return of calm to the region. An interim ceasefire earlier signed between Washington and Tehran under Pakistani mediation was meant to open a 60-day window for talks on a permanent deal, but indirect negotiations in Qatar ended without progress. The regional mediation bears on the same tensions that have pushed the war risk premium in the oil market to a one-month high.
The Express Tribune · Jul 18, 2026
Kuwait urges electricity rationing after a strike on a power and desalination plant
Kuwaiti authorities on Saturday, July 18, urged the public to ration electricity after an Iranian strike caused extensive damage to a power and water desalination plant, sparking a fire and knocking out a large number of electricity generation units. Kuwait relies on desalination for about 90 percent of its drinking water. Kuwait said it intercepted some of the missiles and drones early Saturday, in the second such attack on the small country in two days. The damage to critical water and power infrastructure shows how deeply the US-Iran war is reaching the Persian Gulf states hosting American bases.
PBS NewsHour · Jul 18, 2026
Qatar says a child was wounded by shrapnel from an intercepted Iranian missile attack
Qatar's Interior Ministry said a child was wounded on Friday, July 17, by shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack that its army intercepted over Doha, and is receiving medical care. Residents of Doha reported hearing several explosions, and security alerts were sent to mobile phones. Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region and is a mediator in talks with Washington alongside Pakistan, was struck during the latest wave of Iranian attacks on states hosting American forces. The continued attacks on Persian Gulf countries have kept the war risk premium in oil and shipping insurance elevated.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jul 18, 2026
US strikes widen across southern Iran; Qeshm Island and the Bandar Abbas highway artery hit
As the United States pressed a seventh straight night of strikes on Iran, the attacks widened across the south of the country early on Saturday, July 18, 2026. According to Iran's state news agency, overnight strikes damaged two tunnels and a bridge along one of the main highways toward Bandar Abbas, disrupting traffic on that key artery; Bandar Abbas sits near the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also reported a strike on the strategic Qeshm Island inside the strait. The targeted areas in the south were reported to include Ahvaz, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Dashti, Bostan, Sirik and Bandar-e Lengeh. US Central Command had earlier said this phase hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities. The strikes' proximity to Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz deepens concerns over further disruption to the region's exports and maritime traffic.
Associated Press · Jul 18, 2026
Kuwait hit for a second straight day in Iranian attack; Kuwait International Airport temporarily suspended
On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Kuwait said that for a second straight day one of its power and water desalination plants was hit by Iranian missile and drone attacks, forcing several power generation units offline. Sirens sounded repeatedly across Kuwait from around dawn on Saturday, in one of the heaviest barrages the country has faced since the conflict began. Following the attacks, takeoffs and landings at Kuwait International Airport were temporarily suspended and the country's airspace was closed; Kuwait Airways said it had rescheduled most of its flights. Kuwait draws roughly 90 percent of its drinking water from desalination, and a similar facility had already been damaged on Friday, July 17. The escalation across the Persian Gulf, home to US military bases, raises energy security risk and fears of further disruption to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a channel that indirectly pressures Iran's currency and gold markets.
The National · Jul 18, 2026
Tehran Stock Exchange main index falls more than 2% on Saturday, slipping into the 4.7 million channel
The Tehran Stock Exchange main index (TEDPIX) fell about 107,000 points (close to 2.2 percent) at the open on Saturday, 27 Tir 1405 (18 July 2026), slipping back into the 4.7 million point channel. By around midday the same day, according to Sahmino price data, the decline had deepened to roughly 2.5 percent and a level near 4,773,000 points, while the over-the-counter Iran Farabourse index (IFX) was also down about 2 percent. Selling pressure was seen across most listed symbols, with reports indicating roughly two thirds of the market's tickers in the red. The banking, automotive, basic metals, chemical products, refining and investment company groups played the biggest role in the index's fall. The drop extended last week's downtrend and coincided with the Iran-U.S. military escalation and a fresh record for the free-market dollar around 192,000 tomans.
اقتصادنیوز · Jul 18, 2026
Iran-Oman talks on the Strait of Hormuz end in Muscat without a final deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday, July 18, 2026, to discuss mechanisms for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz under the Iran-US memorandum of understanding. The meeting ended without a final agreement, and both sides said talks would continue at technical and political levels. According to CNN, Oman has proposed managing traffic in the strait via two separately controlled routes, while Tehran prefers a single, joint Iran-Oman management, and there was no sign of progress. Iranian officials also accused the United States of exerting "overt and covert pressure" on Oman. The absence of a safe-passage deal, with vessel traffic through the strait at multi-week lows, keeps war-risk premiums for tankers and oil prices elevated; Brent stayed above $85 a barrel on Friday.
CNN · Jul 18, 2026
Iran's free-market dollar nears 193,000 toman on Saturday, a fresh record high
Iran's free-market US dollar rose about 2.4 percent on Saturday, July 18, 2026, to the 193,000 to 194,000 toman range, its highest level on record. According to Sahmino data, the dollar traded at 193,200 toman by around 11 a.m. Saturday, about 4,600 toman higher than the previous day. At the Iran Currency and Gold Exchange Center, the transfer (hawala) dollar sell rate rose to 150,237 toman on Saturday, crossing the 150,000 toman mark for the first time. The currency's jump comes as the military conflict between Iran and the United States continues and most vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains halted, lifting demand for safe-haven assets such as foreign currency and gold.
اقتصادنیوز · Jul 18, 2026
Qatar halts its LNG output ramp-up as loaded cargoes pile up on tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf
The Hormuz disruption has also paralysed Qatar's LNG exports. After a projectile hit the gas tanker Al Rekayat on 7 July 2026, QatarEnergy paused plans to raise output at the Ras Laffan complex, kept operations at a minimum for safety, and cut the number of vessels scheduled to dock at the terminal. According to S&P Global data, the 10-day moving average of laden LNG cargoes transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell from about 0.8 per day in late June to roughly 0.2 per day by 15 July. Production and loading have continued, but with outbound shipping stalled, loaded cargoes are piling up on tankers: as of mid July about seven laden Qatari carriers holding some 0.57 million tonnes of LNG were waiting in the Persian Gulf. The relevance for Iran lies in the same waterway that carries its oil exports. About a fifth of the world's LNG passes through Hormuz and Qatar is one of the world's top three LNG exporters, so the disruption lifts global gas prices and deepens the energy squeeze.
Business Today · Jul 18, 2026
Saudi Arabia ramps up crude exports via the Red Sea port of Yanbu to bypass the Strait of Hormuz
To reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports, Saudi Arabia is moving rising volumes of crude through its East-West (Petroline) pipeline from the eastern Abqaiq fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, loading tankers there instead. Oil market reports in mid July 2026 put flows on this route at around 4 million barrels per day; the pipeline has a nameplate capacity of nearly 7 million barrels per day. The relevance for Iran lies in the same Hormuz chokepoint. The strait carries about a fifth of the world's oil and is the main route for Iran's own crude exports, and traffic through it has now fallen sharply. Persian Gulf producers can offset part of the global squeeze via alternatives such as the Red Sea, but tankers leaving Yanbu must still pass the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which faces a Houthi threat. Iran has no comparable bypass, so the halt in Hormuz traffic weighs more heavily on its export revenue.
CNBC · Jul 18, 2026
Iran's domestic gold and coin market rose on Saturday amid war tensions
Gold and coin prices rose in Iran's domestic market on Saturday, 18 July 2026. According to market reports, each gram of 18-karat gold traded at around 18,480,000 tomans and 24-karat gold at around 24,640,000 tomans, while the mesghal (the melted-gold benchmark) reached about 80,000,000 tomans. In the coin market, the new-design (Emami) coin was priced at about 185,500,000 tomans, the old-design coin at about 181,500,000 tomans, the half-coin at about 95,000,000 tomans and the quarter-coin at about 53,500,000 tomans. In the currency market, the free-market US dollar traded around 191,000 tomans and Tether around 192,000 tomans. The gains came as the Iran-US military confrontation and the Strait of Hormuz crisis continued; on the same day, global gold stood near 4,006 dollars an ounce.
اکوایران · Jul 18, 2026
IRGC says two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines south of Hormuz; CENTCOM rejects the claim
Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said on Saturday, 18 July 2026, via state television that two oil tankers trying to cross a minefield south of the Strait of Hormuz through the "deception of American intelligence services" had exploded and caught fire. The Guard did not name the two tankers. In a separate statement the same day, the IRGC said four "violating" ships attempting to pass through the strait "with the support of the US military" had been "stopped in place" during a combined missile and drone operation. US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the claim in a brief message on X, writing: "Like most IRGC claims, this is false." The developments came as US strikes on Iran entered a seventh consecutive night, and independent confirmation of the tanker explosions was not available. The Strait of Hormuz is the main route for the region's oil exports and energy shipments, and continued insecurity there weighs on the global oil market and inflation expectations.
Arab News · Jul 18, 2026
Satellite images show damage in Bushehr nuclear plant complex; IAEA's Grossi warns of crossing red line
A comparison of European Sentinel-2 satellite images captured on July 7 and July 12 shows newly formed impact scars inside the Bushehr nuclear power plant complex and damage to nearby support facilities. The analysis, published on Friday, July 17, points to US strikes during the ongoing war on the plant, Iran's only operating nuclear power station, located on the Persian Gulf coast. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the impact appears to have hit a smaller structure within the broader premises, possibly a laboratory or auxiliary building, and did not affect the reactor itself, with no casualties reported. He warned that a direct hit on an operating reactor could trigger a severe radiological incident and repeatedly called for maximum military restraint. Iran's nuclear regulator said the reactor continued to operate normally and that no radiation release was recorded. The market relevance lies in the tail risk: any nuclear incident on the northern Persian Gulf coast would be catastrophic for the region and its energy corridor, and could move oil and gold prices.
الجزیره · Jul 18, 2026
Maersk Keeps Booking Suspension for Upper Gulf Ports; Strait of Hormuz Transits Remain Halted
In its latest Middle East operational update (No. 39), published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, shipping line Maersk said it is maintaining its suspension of cargo bookings for much of the Upper Gulf, citing "highly volatile" conditions. The affected areas include Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia's eastern ports (Dammam and Al Jubail), and most UAE ports except Khor Fakkan. The suspension covers imports, exports, and transshipment cargo. Maersk also said transits of its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remain suspended, and that it is expanding overland "landbridge" alternatives via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, and the UAE to keep cargo moving. The disruption to Gulf shipping could raise regional trade and supply-chain costs.
Maersk · Jul 18, 2026
Reuters Report: Iran Tells Houthis to Prepare to Close Bab el-Mandeb if US Strikes Its Power Grid
Reuters reported on Thursday, July 16, 2026, citing three sources, that Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea to shipping if the United States attacks Iran's power network. According to the report, President Donald Trump had threatened in a July 14 interview to target Iran's electricity infrastructure. A source close to the Houthis said the group has positioned drones and missiles to potentially attack vessels in Bab el-Mandeb. Based on data from maritime-trade analytics firm Kpler, roughly 7 percent of global oil supply transited the strait in June, a route that has become an alternative corridor for the region's energy exports after disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, meaning its closure could add fresh pressure to the global oil market.
The Express Tribune (Reuters) · Jul 18, 2026
US Strikes Iran for a Seventh Straight Night; CENTCOM Says Underground Weapons Stores and Military Sites Hit
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces struck targets in Iran early on Saturday, July 18, 2026, marking the seventh consecutive night of the renewed bombing campaign. According to CENTCOM, the strikes hit "surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities." Iranian state media, citing senior Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Iran would move to a phase of "full-scale offensive operations" if US strikes continued for "another two or three days." The recent military escalation, alongside disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has added to pressure on energy and currency markets.
Al Jazeera · Jul 18, 2026
Wall Street ends the week lower: S&P 500 falls 1.01% Friday, Nasdaq down 2.9% for the week
The main U.S. stock indexes closed lower on Friday, July 17, 2026, with all three finishing the week in the red. The S&P 500 fell 1.01% to 7,457.69, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.4% to 25,520.24, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about 407 points (0.77%) to end at 52,146.42. For the week, the S&P 500 shed roughly 1.6%, the Nasdaq 2.9%, and the Dow nearly 1%. The rout was led by a heavy sell-off in semiconductor stocks: the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) entered bear-market territory and marked its worst week since the April 2025 tariff turmoil. The unveiling of a new AI model from Chinese startup Moonshot and a rotation out of richly priced tech names into economically sensitive shares added to the pressure.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 18, 2026
War risk insurance for tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz climbs to about 5 percent of vessel value
According to shipping insurance market reports on Friday, July 17, 2026, war risk insurance premiums for ships have jumped again as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz escalate, reaching about 5 percent of a vessel's hull value per voyage, up from roughly 0.25 percent before the war. On that basis, a $100 million tanker now faces war risk premiums of about $3 million to $10 million per voyage, versus around $250,000 before the fighting began. Some major insurers have suspended or repriced coverage for the Hormuz and Persian Gulf route. The sharp rise in these costs is one reason vessel traffic has dropped so steeply and regional energy exports, including Iran's oil, are under pressure.
The National · Jul 17, 2026
Iraq and Jordan revive the Basra to Aqaba oil pipeline plan as southern Iraqi crude exports slump
With the Strait of Hormuz crisis continuing, Iraq and Jordan are again studying a roughly 1,600 km oil pipeline to link Basra to the port of Aqaba, a plan dormant since 2019. The United States is encouraging regional countries to find alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq, OPEC's second largest producer, ships most of its crude from the southern port of Basra and has limited alternatives. According to reports, exports from Iraq's southern fields have fallen by about 70 percent during the recent fighting. The development matters for Iran because it shows how the Hormuz disruption is reshaping the entire map of Persian Gulf energy export routes.
The National · Jul 17, 2026
US strikes bridges around Bandar Abbas and a maritime control tower at Chabahar port
Early on Friday, July 17, 2026, in a sixth consecutive night of strikes, US forces hit several bridges and other infrastructure in Iran's southern Hormozgan province. According to news networks, the strikes appeared aimed at cutting road and rail links between Bandar Abbas, Iran's main port, and routes leading to Tehran. Iranian state television reported at least 7 people killed. The same wave also damaged a maritime control tower at Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a port that lies outside the Strait of Hormuz and is operated jointly with India. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck dozens of targets in its latest wave.
NBC News · Jul 17, 2026
Kuwait says an Iranian strike caused widespread damage at a power and water desalination plant
Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said on Friday, July 17, 2026, that one of the country's power plants and desalination facilities was struck, triggering a fire. Kuwaiti officials said the blaze was contained and that technical teams were restoring the damaged units to the grid. Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced the attack as part of what it called the "15th wave of Operation Nasr 2." Desalination complexes supply about 90 percent of Kuwait's drinking water, which makes damage to them especially significant. The strike is part of an escalation across the Persian Gulf following the latest round of US and Iranian attacks.
Gulf News · Jul 17, 2026
Ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz fall to a record low: about 3 vessels in 24 hours versus a pre-war average near 110
According to shipping tracking reports as of Friday, July 17, 2026, only about 3 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, roughly a 97 percent drop from the pre-war daily average of about 110 ships. No very large crude carriers (VLCCs) or LNG tankers are reported to have passed during this window, the second consecutive day without such movements. Traffic plunged after Tehran said the strait would stay closed until further notice. The Strait of Hormuz carries about one fifth of the world's oil, and much of Iran's own crude exports, including from Kharg Island, also move through Persian Gulf waters, so the halt weighs directly on both the global energy market and Iran's foreign-currency revenue.
The Times of Israel · Jul 17, 2026
Philadelphia chip index enters bear market; about $3.3 trillion in global chip value erased since June 22
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell as much as 5.7% on Friday, July 17, 2026, deepening its drop from a late-June record to more than 20% and pushing the gauge into bear-market territory. According to Bloomberg data, roughly $3.3 trillion in global chip-stock market value has been erased since June 22. Before this slide, the 30-stock benchmark had soared about 105% from its March low to last month's peak. Shares of Marvell, ARM and Intel have each fallen more than 30% over that span. Friday's decline followed worries that the heavy spending on artificial intelligence is becoming harder to justify, compounded by the unveiling of the "Kimi K3" model by Chinese startup Moonshot. By Friday midday US Eastern time, Wall Street's main indexes were also trading lower, and Netflix shares dropped about 11% after a weak sales outlook. The selloff has no direct bearing on Iran's markets, but it reinforces a broad risk-off mood that feeds through to oil, gold and crypto prices.
Bloomberg · Jul 17, 2026
Gold and coin prices on Friday, July 17: 18-karat gold near 18,245,000 toman, Emami coin at 186 million toman
On Friday, July 17, 2026, each gram of 18-karat gold in Iran's market was priced at about 18,245,000 toman, slightly lower than the previous day. Each gram of 24-karat gold was quoted at around 24,326,000 toman. In the coin market, the full Emami gold coin reached about 186,010,000 toman and the Bahar Azadi coin around 180,000,000 toman. The decline in domestic gold tracked the drop in global gold, which traded below $4,000 and near $3,972 an ounce on Friday. Iran's official currency and gold market is closed on Thursdays and Fridays, so these quotes are based on informal trading and the global market.
روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد · Jul 17, 2026
Bitcoin slips to around $63,000 on Friday, roughly $1,100 below the previous day
Bitcoin traded at around $62,900 on the morning of Friday, July 17, 2026 (US Eastern time), roughly $1,100 below the previous morning. The world's largest cryptocurrency has fluctuated in the $60,000 to $65,000 range for more than a month. Friday's decline came alongside selling pressure in equity and precious-metals markets amid the intensifying US-Iran war. Several billion dollars' worth of bitcoin and ethereum options also expired on Friday. Tether, the cryptocurrency widely used in Iran's market, has traded inside the country above the free-market dollar rate this week.
Fortune · Jul 17, 2026
Global silver hits eight-month low as gold-to-silver ratio climbs near 72
Silver fell to about $55.80 an ounce in global trading on Friday, July 17, 2026, marking its lowest level in eight months. Silver is down more than 20% from a month ago. The drop came as global gold also stayed below $4,000 an ounce, but silver declined more sharply: the gold-to-silver ratio (the number of ounces of silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of gold) rose to about 72 on Friday, up from around 71.6 on Thursday. Analysts cite concerns that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated, along with the US-Iran war that has pushed up oil prices and inflation worries, as pressures weighing on precious metals.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 17, 2026
China's Moonshot unveils Kimi K3 AI model as chip stocks tumble worldwide
Chinese startup Moonshot AI on Friday, July 17, 2026, unveiled its new AI model, Kimi K3. The company says the model, with 2.8 trillion parameters, is the world's largest open-weight model and trails only the most advanced US models on benchmark tests. The full model weights are due for public release on July 27. The launch triggered a wave of selling in semiconductor and AI stocks, with investors comparing it to the 2025 DeepSeek moment, when a Chinese lab released a model on par with US rivals at a fraction of the cost. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell about 24% from its late-June record on Friday, formally entering a bear market and heading for its worst week since spring 2025. Moonshot, backed by Alibaba, has been valued at around $31.5 billion in an ongoing funding round.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 17, 2026
Tether traded around 192,000 tomans in Iran on Friday, above the latest free-market dollar rate
Tether, the dollar stablecoin, traded around 192,000 tomans on Iranian crypto exchanges on Friday, July 17, 2026 (26 Tir 1405). Domestic sources put the rate between roughly 191,700 and 192,400 tomans, up close to 2% from 24 hours earlier. With Iran's cash currency and gold markets closed on Thursdays and Fridays, tether effectively serves as the only live gauge of the exchange rate over the weekend. At about 192,000 tomans it sits above the latest free-market dollar rate (around 188,600 tomans at Thursday's close on 25 Tir). The gap may signal precautionary demand amid the escalating Iran-U.S. military conflict, as traders lacking an open official currency market use the stablecoin to hedge weekend risk.
نوبیتکس · Jul 17, 2026
Brent holds above $85 on Friday; oil up over 11% for the week, its best week since late April
Oil prices rose on Friday, July 17, 2026 (26 Tir 1405), keeping Brent above $85 a barrel. September Brent futures gained about 0.9% to around $85, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate for August delivery added about 1% to roughly $79.7. Both benchmarks are up more than 11% for the week, their best weekly performance since late April. The main driver is the intensifying U.S.-Iran conflict and fears of disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic has fallen sharply since the escalation began. For Iran the rally cuts both ways: higher prices lift the value of oil exports, yet the U.S. naval blockade and the halt in loadings at the Kharg Island terminal limit its ability to fully capitalize on them.
CNBC · Jul 17, 2026
Iran Launches Fresh Wave of Attacks on Gulf States Hosting US Bases; Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan Targeted Early Friday
Early on Friday, July 17, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on several countries that host US military bases and facilities in the region, in response to a sixth consecutive night of US airstrikes. According to reports, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan came under fire during the overnight barrage. Qatar's Defence Ministry said it had fended off a second air attack of the day on Friday morning, adding that a child was wounded by shrapnel during interception operations. The IRGC claimed it had struck a US military base in Kuwait, hitting a defence radar, several weapons depots and two HIMARS missile launchers. Jordan's army said it had intercepted and destroyed three missiles fired toward the country, with no casualties. The attacks came as the US bombed southern Iran for a sixth straight night, including routes and infrastructure around Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, leaving at least seven people dead according to state media. The Strait of Hormuz remains the flashpoint of the crisis; Brent crude hovered near 85 dollars a barrel and gold traded below 4,000 dollars. Rising tension in the Persian Gulf keeps the geopolitical risk premium in oil and gold elevated and adds pressure on Iran's currency market.
الجزیره · Jul 17, 2026
US Strikes Iran for Sixth Straight Night; Infrastructure Hit and at Least 7 Reported Killed
US forces struck targets across southern and western Iran early on Friday, 17 July 2026, for a sixth consecutive night. According to reports, the damaged infrastructure included an airport, several bridges and a railway station, and Iranian state media said at least 7 people were killed and about 20 wounded (some reports put the death toll at 8). Tehran warned that the war would spread if the strikes continued. The attacks are part of the wider US-Iran confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz and the naval blockade of Iranian ports, and have kept pressure on global oil and gold markets.
Al Jazeera · Jul 17, 2026
TSMC Lifts 2026 Capex to as Much as $64 Billion, Targets Over 40% Revenue Growth
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chipmaker, raised its 2026 capital-spending plan to a range of $60 billion to $64 billion in its quarterly report on Thursday, July 16, at least $4 billion above its previous estimate. Most of the spending is earmarked for advanced technologies serving artificial-intelligence and high-performance-computing customers. The company also lifted its revenue-growth outlook for the year to more than 40%, up from a prior forecast of around 30%. Despite the strong figures, TSMC shares fell about 4.6% in premarket trading, as some investors questioned the long-run returns on such a large AI investment. The surge in spending, and doubts over AI valuations, helped fuel a wave of selling in chip stocks across Asian and US markets this week.
Taipei Times · Jul 17, 2026
China's Crude Oil Imports Fell 41% in June to Lowest Since October 2016
China's crude oil imports fell about 41% year on year in June to 29.27 million tonnes, or nearly 7.12 million barrels per day, according to customs data released on Tuesday, July 14. That was the lowest level since October 2016 and roughly 12% below May, which had itself been the weakest reading in eight years. Analysts attribute the drop to the war in the Persian Gulf and the disruption to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a slowdown in China's domestic demand. Independent refiners in Shandong province have cut run rates and shifted toward buying crude from Persian Gulf producers. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so a sharp fall in its imports can weigh on Iran's oil revenue and the domestic currency market.
OilPrice.com · Jul 17, 2026
TSMC pledges another $100 billion for US plants, taking its total commitment to $265 billion
TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that it will add another $100 billion to its US investment, lifting its total commitment to $265 billion. The White House and the US Commerce Department confirmed the increase. According to the Commerce Department, the new sum will fund up to four more plants, bringing TSMC's US facilities to 12, focused on 2 nanometer chips. The announcement came alongside second-quarter results: net profit jumped 77% to a record 706.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (about $22 billion), and the company raised its 2026 revenue growth forecast to slightly above 40%. On Friday, July 17, TSMC shares fell 6.1% and Taiwan's overall market dropped 5.9%, as part of the market grew cautious about the heavy capital spending the plan implies.
Associated Press · Jul 17, 2026
Gold holds below $4,000 on Friday, set for its biggest weekly loss in six weeks
Spot gold held below $4,000 an ounce on Friday, July 17, 2026, trading around $3,986. The metal was on track for a weekly decline of about 3.4%, its biggest weekly loss in six weeks and near its lowest level since November 2025. Higher oil prices, driven by escalating US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, have revived inflation worries and strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates elevated, adding selling pressure on gold. On the other side, softer US inflation data that has trimmed the odds of a rate hike at the upcoming meeting has offered the metal some support.
CNBC · Jul 17, 2026
Asian stock markets tumble Friday as Japan's Nikkei sheds 5.3% in a global chip selloff
Asian stock markets fell sharply on Friday, July 17, 2026, hit by a wave of selling in chipmakers and AI-related shares. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 5.3% to 63,357, near its lowest in a month, with Tokyo Electron down 9.3%, Advantest off 10.5% and SoftBank down 11.4%. Taiwan's market fell 5.9% and TSMC dropped 6.1%, a day after the company announced a fresh $100 billion investment in the United States. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 2.2% to 24,451, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.6% to 3,819 and Australia's benchmark eased 0.7% to 8,776. Alongside the tech selloff, investors stayed wary of US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, worries that have kept oil near a one-month high.
Associated Press · Jul 17, 2026
Netflix stock falls about 9% to an 18-month low after weak Q3 outlook
Netflix reported its second-quarter 2026 results on Thursday, July 16, 2026 (after the US market close): revenue of $12.56 billion, slightly below the roughly $12.58 billion analysts expected, and earnings per share of $0.80, about a penny ahead of forecasts. Despite results broadly in line with expectations, the stock fell about 9% in after-hours trading to an 18-month low, and is down roughly 21% so far in 2026. The main driver was weaker-than-expected third-quarter guidance: Netflix projected about 12% revenue growth for Q3, below Wall Street's estimate of roughly $13 billion. The company narrowed its full-year 2026 revenue range to $51.0 billion to $51.4 billion and kept its operating margin outlook unchanged at 31.5%. Netflix also said it will publish fewer metrics on user engagement going forward.
CNBC · Jul 17, 2026
Trump drops 20% Strait of Hormuz fee, replaces it with Gulf states' investment deals
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that he had dropped a plan to charge a 20 percent fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, replacing it with trade and investment deals with the Gulf states. The decision came just hours before the fee was due to take effect. In a statement, Trump said that based on highly productive conversations with regional leaders, the 20 percent US reimbursement fee would be replaced by investments the various Gulf states would make into the United States. He added that the strait was open to all shipping except vessels belonging to Iran. The UN's International Maritime Organization had earlier opposed any fees on waterways used for international navigation, saying there was no legal basis for mandatory tolls on strait transits. Scrapping the plan removes one risk driver from the oil market, though military tension over the Strait of Hormuz continues.
The Hill · Jul 17, 2026
Planned power cuts roll out across Iran; Tavanir reports a 4,200 MW drop in grid capacity
Iran's state power company Tavanir has begun a nationwide program of "planned power outages," with electricity restrictions in force in Tehran since July 15. Tavanir officials say rationing schedules are announced 48 hours in advance. Tavanir has reported that the country's grid capacity fell by about 4,200 megawatts after recent strikes, with more than 2,000 points in the power infrastructure damaged. The company estimates the financial damage to the electricity industry has exceeded 60 trillion tomans (close to one billion dollars at the free-market rate). Restrictions on industrial power use have also widened and could weigh on output and employment. Beyond the war damage, Iran's power industry has faced a structural crisis for years: underinvestment, ageing facilities and gas shortages, alongside intense summer heat and rising demand, fuel widespread outages every year.
Voice of Emirates · Jul 17, 2026
US-Iran tension over the Strait of Hormuz eases; a fresh round of talks is set for Saturday in Oman
After the most intense round of US strikes on Iran and Tehran's responses, tension over the Strait of Hormuz began to ease by the evening of Thursday, July 16, and unlike earlier in the week when talks were described as deadlocked, a fresh round of negotiations is now set for Saturday, July 18, in Oman. According to international media, the US side will include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iran will be represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Washington wants Iran to declare publicly, before any talks on its nuclear program, that the Strait of Hormuz is open and that commercial vessels will not be attacked. Oman had earlier proposed managing traffic through the strait via two separate corridors and without imposing tolls. The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council stressed on Friday, July 17, that Iran would respond to any attack on its infrastructure, including by striking Israel. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest since June 28, and the currency, gold and oil markets are awaiting the outcome of the Oman talks.
Deccan Chronicle · Jul 17, 2026
Dollar index near a one-month low as the odds of a July Fed rate hike collapse to 11%
The U.S. dollar index (DXY), which measures the currency against a basket of six major peers, was little changed at around 100.47 on Thursday, July 16, 2026, hovering near its lowest level since June 18. The index has fallen about 0.8% over the past two sessions and is on track for a weekly decline. Soft U.S. inflation data, including an unexpected drop in the June producer price index (its biggest fall in 14 months), pushed the implied odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike at the July meeting down to about 11%, from 45% at the start of the week. Even so, inflation fears driven by surging energy prices and U.S.-Iran tensions kept the dollar from falling further. The dollar's weakness and the Fed's rate path matter directly for the global gold market and for currency expectations in Iran.
CNBC · Jul 17, 2026
Alphabet shares fall 4.4% on a report of delay to the Gemini 3.5 Pro AI model
Shares of Alphabet, Google's parent company, fell about 4.4% on Thursday, July 16, 2026, wiping an estimated $200 billion off the company's market value. The drop followed a Bloomberg report that the launch of Gemini 3.5 Pro, Google's most powerful AI model, has been delayed by months. According to the report, the model had been due for release in June, when Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled it at the Google I/O developer conference in May. The delay has been attributed to Google's efforts to improve the model's capabilities, particularly in coding, and has raised concerns that Google is falling behind rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
CNBC · Jul 17, 2026
Wall Street closes lower Thursday as a chip selloff drags the Nasdaq down 1.5%
The main U.S. stock indices closed lower on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as a selloff in semiconductor shares outweighed a run of strong quarterly earnings. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.47% to 25,881.95, the S&P 500 slipped 0.51% to 7,533.77, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.20% (105.67 points) to close at 52,552.97. The pressure came mainly from technology stocks: a roughly 4.4% drop in Alphabet shares after a report that its Gemini AI model launch had been delayed, together with broader weakness in chipmakers, turned the market red. The decline came even as U.S. banks and healthcare companies reported better-than-expected quarterly profits.
TheStreet · Jul 17, 2026
Netflix reports $12.6 billion revenue and $0.80 EPS for Q2 2026
Netflix released its second-quarter 2026 results on Thursday, 16 July 2026, after the US market close. Revenue reached $12.6 billion, up 13% year over year and roughly in line with analyst expectations. Diluted earnings per share came in at $0.80, up from $0.72 in the second quarter of 2025 and slightly above market estimates. Operating income was $4.2 billion (up 11% year over year) and the operating margin was 33.4%, versus 34.1% in the second quarter of 2025. The company said revenue grew at double-digit rates across all geographic regions. For the third quarter of 2026, Netflix guided to 12% revenue growth (11% on a currency-neutral basis) and a 33.2% operating margin, compared with 28.2% a year earlier. The stock had fallen about 21% since the start of 2026 heading into the report.
U.S. SEC (Netflix Form 8-K) · Jul 16, 2026
Bitcoin near $64,000 Thursday as crypto holds up against falling gold
The crypto market held up on Thursday, 16 July 2026, even as global gold slid. Per Yahoo Finance, bitcoin opened the day near $64,720 (about 0.4% below Wednesday) and eased to around $64,066 by morning US trading. By Thursday evening Tehran time it was trading near $64,085, roughly 1.4% below the prior day. Ethereum outperformed, opening near $1,917, about 1.5% higher. That resilience came as spot gold fell nearly 2% the same day to below $4,000 and silver stayed under $58. Crypto analysts attribute this week's steadiness to softer US inflation data, which opened more room for risk assets. For Iranian savers, Tether is the main gateway to the global crypto market, and moves in bitcoin and stablecoins track this dollar-denominated market.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 16, 2026
Turkish Lira Hits Record Low as Dollar Nears 47 Lira
The Turkish lira fell to a record low against the US dollar on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with the exchange rate weakening to around 47 lira per dollar. The currency has extended a gradual slide since mid-May, when it passed 45.5 per dollar, and is down roughly 7 percent since the start of the year. Turkey's central bank had already warned that disinflation would be slower than expected, largely because of the surge in energy and food prices tied to the Iran-US war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis. As a major importer of oil and gas, Turkey sees higher energy costs widen its current-account deficit and lift demand for foreign currency, adding to the pressure on the lira. Sahmino's live feed also puts the dollar-to-lira rate near 47.
Trading Economics · Jul 16, 2026
IEA Warns the World Has Just Weeks to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, warned on Thursday, July 16, 2026 that the global economy will face renewed difficulty unless the Strait of Hormuz crisis is resolved within the next few weeks. He stressed that "it is not months, it is weeks" and said the waterway must be reopened "fully and unconditionally." Noting that roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, Birol said markets are nervous and grappling with "big uncertainty." Disruption to Persian Gulf energy and petrochemical feedstock shipments has already hit economies such as South Korea and Japan, he said, while countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and India are far more vulnerable to a cutoff. The remarks came on the sixth day of the Iran-US military confrontation over control of Hormuz, as Brent crude steadied near 85 dollars after four days of gains.
Business Standard · Jul 16, 2026
Araghchi travels to Doha for late Qatari emir's mourning; a condolence visit, not US talks
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led a delegation to Doha on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, to offer condolences over the death of Qatar's former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, died on Sunday, July 12, at the age of 74. Before departing, Araghchi issued a message of sympathy to Qatar's current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Al Thani family, and he met senior Qatari officials in Doha. The trip came days after Qatar said it was targeted by an Iranian attack on Sunday, and amid a fresh surge in Iran-US military tensions. Although Tehran's currency market had in recent days been watching for possible "Doha talks," the visit was a ceremonial condolence call, not a sign of direct Iran-US negotiations. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman had earlier said Tehran has no plans for talks and is focused on defense.
Middle East Eye · Jul 16, 2026
Iran's Health Ministry: latest US strikes killed at least 35 and wounded more than 300
Iran's Health Ministry said on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that recent US strikes on the country's southern provinces had killed at least 35 people and wounded more than 300. The figure is a sharp rise from the ministry's earlier count (14 killed and 78 wounded on July 9) and points to the intensity of the new wave of attacks, which followed the reimposition of the US naval blockade and a widening of the bombing campaign. Washington has said the strikes are a response to the targeting of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and are meant to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping. The escalation has direct consequences for Iran's markets: it has kept Brent crude near 85 dollars a barrel, its highest in about a month, and adds fresh pressure on the free-market exchange rate and domestic inflation.
WINK News (AP) · Jul 16, 2026
IRGC threatens to halt the entire region's energy exports: oil and gas 'for everyone or for no one'
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, after the United States reimposed its naval blockade of Iran and widened its air campaign, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would halt the region's energy exports entirely. In its statement the Guard said that "the export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one." The threat points directly at the global oil and gas market, since a large share of the world's energy exports passes through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's own oil exports have fallen to less than a sixth of their pre-war level since the blockade began, and Tehran is now threatening to disrupt the exports of other regional producers as well. Against this backdrop, Brent crude rose for a fourth straight session to near 85 dollars a barrel, its highest in about a month. Further escalation raises the risk of an energy-price spike and renewed pressure on Iran's exchange rate and domestic inflation.
ITV News · Jul 16, 2026
Chip Stocks Stayed Under Pressure Despite Strong TSMC Results as Wall Street Traded Mixed on Thursday
The main US stock indexes traded mixed and without a single direction on Thursday, July 16, 2026. In early trading, the Nasdaq lagged with a fall of about 0.8% and the S&P 500 with a decline of about 0.4%, while the Dow Jones was slightly higher. The main pressure was on semiconductor stocks, which fell despite strong results from TSMC as investors grew concerned about high valuations in the technology sector. A weaker-than-expected June retail sales report and the ongoing US-Iran war also weighed on market sentiment. On the other side, Abbott shares rose about 4% after it raised its earnings outlook, while United Airlines fell about 3% following its warning about rising fuel costs. The figures cited refer to early Thursday trading and may change by the close.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 16, 2026
Abbott Beats on Q2 Profit and Raises Its 2026 Earnings Outlook
The pharmaceutical and medical-device company Abbott released its second-quarter 2026 results on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Reported sales grew 13% and comparable sales rose 4.8%. GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS at $1.31. Abbott raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range to $5.45 to $5.60 (from a previous $5.38 to $5.58) and reaffirmed comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%. The company returned $2.1 billion to shareholders in the quarter through dividends and share buybacks. Abbott shares rose about 4% in Thursday trading after the results. The report is part of the US large-cap earnings season that shapes the overall mood of global markets.
Abbott Laboratories (SEC 8-K) · Jul 16, 2026