Bloomberg — Week of 2026-03-24 to 2026-03-26#

Story of the Week#

The escalating conflict with Iran and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a massive global energy shock, disrupting up to 10 million barrels of oil a day. After Tehran rejected a 15-point US peace plan and moved to toll the crucial waterway, President Trump extended a strike deadline while the OECD warned the crisis could push global inflation to 4.2%. The geopolitical standoff is driving severe supply chain disruptions globally, ranging from an impending fuel crisis in California to jet fuel hoarding across Asia.

Markets & Economics#

Central Banks Pivot to Inflation Risks · Bloomberg: The OECD warned that the Middle East conflict could drive global inflation to 4.2%, prompting Fed and ECB officials to signal that interest rates may hold steady or even rise as price pressures decisively outweigh employment concerns.
Private Credit Squeezed by Redemptions · Bloomberg: The $1.8 trillion private credit market is facing a severe liquidity test, with over $4.6 billion in investor capital trapped behind withdrawal limits as major funds from Ares and Cliffwater post steep losses.
Mortgage Rates Hit Five-Month High · Bloomberg: US home-financing costs jumped to 6.43%, their highest level since October, dealing a fresh blow to both purchasing and refinancing demand.
China Emerges as Debt Safe Haven · Bloomberg: Mainland China is surprisingly acting as a debt-funding safe haven for foreign borrowers seeking shelter from Middle East volatility, contrasting sharply with emerging markets like Indonesia that are suffering oil-driven capital outflows.

Business & Industries#

M&A Boom Spans Healthcare and Energy · Bloomberg: Brookfield and Caisse agreed to a C$9 billion buyout of renewable firm Boralex, while Merck is acquiring Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion to bolster its cancer pipeline. Elsewhere, US insurers Equitable and Corebridge are plotting a $22 billion all-stock merger.
DHS Shutdown Boosts Rental Cars · Bloomberg: A 40-day partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security is severely disrupting TSA staffing and air travel, sending shares of Hertz and Avis soaring as desperate travelers pivot to rental cars and trains.
SpaceX Eyes Blockbuster IPO · Bloomberg: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly weighing a massive $75 billion fundraising target, setting the stage for what could be the largest initial public offering in history.
BYD’s Autonomous Tech Scrutinized · Bloomberg: Flaws in the highly touted “God’s Eye” semi-autonomous driving system of BYD’s flagship Yangwang U8 SUV are exposing the risks of China’s rushed high-tech vehicle rollouts.

Policy & World#

Trump and Xi Set May Summit · Bloomberg: President Trump will travel to Beijing on May 14-15 to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping, concluding a delay that had sparked fresh uncertainties between the two economic superpowers.
Trump Appoints AI Tech Council · Bloomberg: The White House tapped prominent industry titans, including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, for a new presidential technology council focused on artificial intelligence policy.
Britain Targets Russian Shadow Fleet · Bloomberg: The UK will begin boarding and intercepting Russian “shadow fleet” vessels in its territorial waters to ramp up pressure on Moscow’s sanctioned crude exports.
Senate Targets Prediction Market Bets · Bloomberg: A bipartisan Senate bill was introduced to force lawmakers to disclose prediction market bets, aiming to prevent public officials from profiting off insider information.

Opinion & Analysis#

Gold Fails Safe-Haven Test · Bloomberg: Analysts note that gold’s 15% tumble during the Iran conflict undermines its safe-haven assumptions, though the metal continues to function as a liquid “piggy bank” for investors locking in long-term profits following a massive 50% yearly rally.
The Chokehold Era of Warfare · Bloomberg: The escalating Middle East conflict underscores how modern conflicts increasingly rely on crippling economic chokeholds, exposing a dangerously unprepared global financial system.