U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday stateside warned that if Iran continued targeting Qatar’s energy facilities, America would “massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field.”
The US central bank held interest rates steady on Wednesday and projected higher inflation, steady unemployment and a single reduction in borrowing costs this year, a path that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said was subject to unusually high uncertainty as policymakers take stock of the impact of the US and Israeli war with Iran.
Citi said in a note on Wednesday that it expects oil prices to climb sharply as conflict-driven supply disruptions intensify, with analysts projecting Brent will rise to between $110 and $120 a barrel in the coming days.
Oil prices rose as much as 3% on Thursday after Iran attacked several energy facilities across the Middle East following a strike on its South Pars gas field, a major escalation in Tehran’s war with the U.S. and Israel.
The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has released vehicle sales data for the month of February 2026, which saw a total of 52,414 vehicles delivered to customers.
Gulf banks could face domestic deposit outflows of $307 billion if the Middle East conflict deepens, S&P Global Ratings said.