Oil rises, stocks fall as Iran war enters fifth week and further escalation looms

AFP / France 24
by Charles PELLEGRIN
March 30, 2026
3 min read

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Oil surged past $115 per barrel as Iran war entered fifth week with potential disruptions to shipping through key Middle East straits.

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Oil prices surged past $115 a barrel Monday as the Iran war entered its fifth week, with Houthi strikes on Israel raising fresh concerns about chokepoint shipping lanes. The attacks threaten to disrupt traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, compounding supply pressure across global energy markets. Stock markets fell amid the energy shock, reflecting investor anxiety about sustained price spikes and their ripple effects on inflation and consumer spending. The conflict's economic reach extends far beyond oil markets—disrupted supply chains are already affecting used car dealers in Japan and South Korea, signaling broader consequences for international commerce.

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