Companies from consumer goods to travel and mining warned on Wednesday that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is driving up costs, disrupting supply chains and hurting consumer confidence, clouding financial outlooks.

The U.S. Federal Reserve will wait at least six months before cutting interest rates this year, according to a Reuters poll of economists, as war-driven energy shocks reignite already-elevated inflation.

Oil prices extended their gains on Thursday, rising more than $1 in the wake of stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States and as both nations maintained restrictions on the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

The auto sales momentum is expected to ease in April as cautious consumer sentiment and external risks weigh on demand, while tighter fuel subsidy quotas may support electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) adoption.

Malaysia's Karex Bhd , the world's top condom producer, plans to raise prices by 20 per cent to 30 per cent and possibly further if supply chain disruptions drag on due to the Iran war, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

Japan's exports rose for a seventh straight month led by demand tied to artificial intelligence that has for now blunted the impact of trade disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, government data showed on Wednesday.