Piparwar Coal Mine, Jharkhand State, India. Photo: ANI/VNA
1. Coal Makes a Comeback, Nuclear Energy “Reappears”: The prolonged paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, now lasting for five weeks with no signs of improvement, has significant implications that could reshape the global energy landscape, especially in Asia.
2. Middle East Conflict Threatens Luxury Car Segment: The Middle East market, accounting for less than 10% of sales but significantly contributing to the profits of ultra-luxury car manufacturers, is facing serious risks due to the slowdown in global demand. Customization programs that previously generated high profit margins for manufacturers are at a standstill amid escalating conflicts in the region.
3. Gulf States Suffer Heavy Losses: After a month of conflict with Iran, major Gulf economies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar have reportedly lost about 1% of their GDP, equivalent to losses of 20 to 25 billion dollars, due to disruptions in energy and air transport.
4. Aluminum Prices Soar to Highest Level Since Mid-March 2026: On March 30, international aluminum prices surged following attacks on production facilities in the Middle East. This situation is likely to worsen supply disruptions in the region, which significantly contributes to global aluminum production.
Aluminum being produced at a factory in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
5. Israeli Parliament Approves Record Budget for 2026: In the early hours of March 30 (local time), the Israeli Knesset officially approved the 2026 budget bill, the largest in the country’s history, amid ongoing conflict with Iran and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. This decision prevents the collapse of power, authorizes last-minute snap elections, but also faces strong criticism from the opposition.
6. G7 Seeks Solutions to Lower Oil and Gas Prices: On March 30, finance ministers, energy ministers, and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) will hold a virtual meeting to assess the economic consequences of the Middle East conflict, amid rising oil and gas prices.
7. Japan Prefers to Raise Interest Rates Faced with Inflationary Pressures Due to Energy Prices: Summary of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) meeting in March 2026, published on March 30, shows that many monetary policy council members emphasized the need to tighten monetary policy as rising energy prices, fueled by tensions in the Middle East, increase inflationary pressures.
8. China Expands Foreign Investment Channels: China has raised the ceiling on foreign securities purchases allowed for domestic financial institutions to an unprecedented scale since 2021. This measure aims to promote financial sector openness and meet the growing demand for international investments in mainland China.
Traders on the New York Stock Exchange, United States. Photo: THX/VNA
9. U.S. Stock Market Draws Lessons from 2011 – Finding Optimism Amid Crisis: When the market is in turmoil and bad news abounds, optimistic forecasts are often perceived as illusions. Nevertheless, Wall Street’s history has shown that “contrarian” opinions are sometimes correct.
10. WTO Negotiations at Standstill: Negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Yaounde, Cameroon, concluded on the morning of March 30 without reaching an agreement on key issues such as system reforms, agriculture, and extending the moratorium on e-commerce tariffs.
11. Petrochemicals – The “Blind Spot” of the Strait of Hormuz Crisis: As the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz intensified, much attention was focused on the rise in gasoline prices. However, the most significant inflation risk for the global economy lay in a less publicized sector: petrochemicals, an essential raw material for manufacturing the vast majority of consumer products.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/diem-tin-kinh-te-the-gioi-noi-bat-ngay-3032026-20260330201103641.htm
