Market News

Summary:

• South Korea’s Lee visits India for first time in eight years
• Target to double trade to $50bn by 2030
• Focus on shipbuilding, AI, finance, defence cooperation
• Supply chain risks driving closer ties
• Korea seeks more naphtha from India
• Trade imbalance remains a key issue

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, aiming to significantly deepen economic ties as both countries look to strengthen resilience against global supply chain disruptions.

The visit marks the first South Korean presidential state trip to India in eight years, underscoring a renewed push from Seoul to elevate the relationship. Officials from both sides are targeting a near doubling of bilateral trade to…

Canada PM Carney said US ties are now a weakness as tariffs rise, signalling a push to diversify trade and investment amid growing economic uncertainty and tensions with Washington.

Summary:

• Carney says US ties now a “weakness,” not strength
• Points to surge in US tariffs and protectionism
• Canada to diversify trade and attract new investment
• Tariffs hitting autos and steel sectors
• Business investment slowing amid uncertainty
• US-Canada tensions rising, including political rhetoric

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a weekend address to signal a strategic shift in Canada’s economic positioning, arguing that the country’s historically close ties with the United States have become a vulnerability rather than a strength in an…

Posting some of the majors, use our app to check markets you are interested in.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

New Zealand monthly trade suprlus for March 2026.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

Trump has tweeted that US Marines have boarded an Iranian ship. Trump sent the message ut on his own social media app, driving views and revenue.

US CENTCOM had not confirmed this action by Marines at the time of Trump's tweets, the information was still classified.

Iran has denied it. But Trump confirmed it, leaving little doubt.

Earlier:

Trump tweeted that Iran violated the ceasefire:

• Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!

Trump said he is sedning a negotiation team:

• My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations.

Trump urged Iran to accept his deal, and said refusal would have dire coinsequences:

• We’re…

Once again, it's been a crazy weekend for the US-Iran war as it looked (looks?) like the whole thing could fall apart.

First, the opening of the Strait on Friday turned out to be a false start at best as Iran reversed it after the US refused to lift its blockade. Then, Iran fired on some ships that were attempting the transit.

Today, Trump is back to threatening to blow everything up. He wrote on Truth Social:

Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran…

Iran has come out with a statement that the US has failed to live up to their end of the bargain. And as such, the Iranian military has moved to "close" the Strait of Hormuz once again.

Iran is claiming that the US "did not fulfill their obligations" as the naval blockade is still ongoing. In response, Iran now says that the strait is returning to "strict control" and any vessels wishing to transit will require Iran's approval once again. In effect, that is a return to the previous status quo where the strait was in de facto closure. The statement reads:

"So long as the US does not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels traveling from Iran to destinations and from destinations to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will…

• Iran foreign minister: The Strait of Hormuz is completely open
• Trump thanks Iran for opening the Strait
• Trump says he expects Iran war deal "in a day or two"
• Trump says US naval blockage of Iran should be halted "very quickly"
• Trump says US will get nuclear dust and that Israel is now prohibited from bombing Lebanon
• Iran Parliamentary Committee Spokesman: We will not allow uranium to leave the country
• Senior Iranian official: Significant differences remain, serious talks required
• US considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal - report
• Fed's Daly: Businesses cautiously optimistic
• Fed's Waller: Job market break even rate now likely around zero
• BoE’s Pill challenges "wait-and-see" status quo, urges proactive inflation defense
• Canada March housing…

Trump is out with an interview with CBS reiterating that the US will get Iran's uranium.

"Our people, together with the Iranians are going to work together to go get it. And then we'll take it to the United States," he said.

However, Iran's Parliamentary National Security Committee Spokesman tells Al Jazeera they will not allow the removal of uranium from Iran, and the American statements on social media differ from reality.

Maybe this ultimately still ends with the uranium going to a third country but everything is being spun on all sides right now. Or maybe it's all going to fall apart. Oil ticked a bit higher into settlement but WTI still finished down $10.84 to $83.85 or 11.45% in one of the all-time biggest one-day declines.

With Trump…

Oil has ticked higher on some headlines tossing up some skepticism about a US-Iran deal.

Reuters cited a senior unnamed Iranian official:

• Significant differences remain, including on nuclear issues
• Serious talks required
• Keeping Strait of Hormuz open is conditional on adherence to ceasefire terms
• A preliminary deal could be reached within the coming days, with the possibility of extending the ceasefire
• A prelim deal could "create space" for talks on lifting sanctions and securing compensation for war damages
• Iran is ready to assure the world about the peaceful nature of its nuclear work if its demands are met

The S&P 500 has pulled back about 25 points from the highs but most of that was before this. Oil has also bounced from the…

Trump spoke with Axios and said:

"The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two."

It sounds like all the details have been worked out and Trump's talk about Iran not getting its funds unfrozen sounds hollow. Just now the WSJ reports that the US told Iran it would get $20 billion if it hands over its stockpile of uranium. They cited people familiar.

Trump also touched on Israel and Lebanon:

"Israel has to stop. They can't continue to blow buildings up. I am not gonna allow it," he said.

We will see how much sway he has in that department.

Update: Trump tells the AFP there are no sticking points in the Iran…

Another message from Trump on Truth Social and another big indication that a peace deal is coming:

The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear “Dust,” created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form. This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you! President DJT

That's a pretty big surprise on Lebanon.

I'd imagine this 'money changing hands' bit on frozen Iranian funds is a bit of semantics. That money is in Qatar currently.

We're sort of entering the spin zone here now…