Stocks Dives In Asia, Indian Shares Set To Head For Worst Month In 06 Years On Iran War Brent Crude Heads For Record Monthly Rise.

Mumbai; March 2026 : Stock markets slumped in Asia early today (30th March 2026, Monday) as investors dug in for a protracted Gulf conflict that already has oil prices heading for ​a record monthly rise, bringing a spike in inflation and the risk of recession to much of the globe. US President on 29th March have said that U.S. could seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, from where Iran exports much of its oil, but also that a ceasefire could come quickly.

On the otherside Pakistan had the initial discussions with regional countries which they have attributed as “meaningful talks”, as Maverick News 30 have reported, to end the conflict over Iran in coming days even though Tehran earlier accused Washington of preparing a land assault as the U.S. military sends more troops to the region.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis also launched their ​first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict.

“Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, capacity to disrupt global energy and food markets, and sustained missile ​and drone capabilities give it little incentive to concede, pressuring the U.S. to escalate”, said Madison Cartwright, senior geo-economics analyst at Commonwealth Bank ⁠of Australia, while further stating that, “We expect the war to run at least into June, with the risk tilted to a longer conflict”.

The clampdown on the Strait has sent prices for oil, gas, ​fertiliser, plastic and aluminium surging, along with fuel for planes and shipping. Prices for food, pharmaceuticals and petrochemical products are all set to rise, which is not a market friendly preposition for the Asian subcontinent, as ​much of the region is highly dependent on energy from the Middle East:

• Japan’s Nikkei shed another 4.7%, bringing losses for March to almost 14%.
• South Korea’s market fell 4.2%, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside.
• Japan dropped 1.2%.
• S&P 500 futures lost 0.7%, while
• Nasdaq futures fell 0.9%.
• Indian shares are set to open lower on Monday, and are set for their worst monthly performance in six years, tracking declines across Asia after ​oil surged above $115 a barrel as an expanding Middle East war ‌sapped risk appetite.
• GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 22,564.5 as of 8:04 a.m. IST, indicating that the benchmark Nifty 50 may open below Friday’s close of 22,819.6 points.
• India’s benchmark Nifty 50 ​and Sensex have lost about 9.5% since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February ‌28th.

Meanwhile, ⁠the Indian rupee has slipped to a record low of 94.84 per dollar early today. Foreign investors offloaded 43.67 billion rupees ($460.77 million) worth of Indian shares on Friday, taking their March outflows to a record $12.3 billion so far, per provisional data.

For Europe:

• EUROSTOXX 50 futures and DAX futures both slid 1.5%,
• FTSE futures fell 1.0%.
• Brent crude rose 3.0% to $115.98 ​a barrel, bringing its gains for the month to 60% and topping the jump that followed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

In the European Union, figures forecasted on Tuesday (24th March) depicts annual inflation leaped to 2.7% in March from 1.9% the month before, though core prices should be steadier. The energy shock, combined with pressure on ⁠fiscal budgets from higher borrowing costs and the need for more defence spending, has slugged sovereign bond markets.

U.S. crude climbed 3.0% to $102.52, making a monthly ​rise of 53%.

“The longer the Strait remains closed, the sharper the drawdown in buffer supplies that could spark dramatic increases in the price of crude oil, natural gas and other commodities”, warned Bruce ‌Kasman, global head ⁠of economics at JPMorgan, while stating further, “A scenario in which the Strait remains closed for an additional month would be consistent with oil prices rising towards $150/bbl and constraints on industrial consumers of energy supply”.

The inflationary threat has led investors to revise up the outlook for interest rates almost everywhere. Markets now imply 12 basis points of tightening by the Federal Reserve this year, compared with 50 basis points of cuts a month ago.

Data on U.S. retail sales, manufacturing and payrolls this week will provide an update on how the economy is travelling. Jobs are seen rising 55,000 in March, after February’s shock 92,000 drop, keeping unemployment at 4.4%.

10 year’s U.S. Treasury yields are up roughly 47 basis points for the month so far at 4.428%, while two-year yields have climbed 54 basis points. Heightened volatility in markets has tended to benefit the U.S. dollar as the world’s most liquid currency. The United States is also ⁠a net energy ​exporter, giving it a relative advantage over Europe and much of Asia.

The dollar was holding at 160.12 ​yen , having last week crossed the 160 barrier for the first time since July 2024 when Japan last intervened to prop up the currency.

The euro was stuck at $1.1500 , not far from the March trough of $1.1409.

In commodity markets, gold ​was down 1.0% at $4,445 an ounce , having drawn scant support as a safe haven or as a hedge against inflation risks.

Team Maverick.