Oil prices hit four year high: Latest news on the Middle East conflict on 9 March
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $...
The price of gold surged sharply on Wednesday, reaching a new record of $3,530.08 per ounce. Analysts say the rise is driven by expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September and concerns over the central bank’s independence.
By 17:30 GMT, gold stood at $3,528.80 per ounce and currently trades around $3,526.80.
Gold had already hit record levels earlier this year, surpassing $3,500 amid global trade tensions sparked by U.S. tariffs. The “safe-haven” metal has gained more than 33% so far this year.
Prices had stabilised around $3,400 as trade fears eased, but renewed expectations of a Fed rate cut for the September meeting have lifted demand once again.
The Fed is set to announce its interest rate decision later this month. Money markets assign an 88% probability of a rate cut, with two cuts expected by the end of the year. Inflation in July fell below expectations and employment growth slowed, prompting markets to anticipate a 25 basis-point reduction in September. The current policy rate stands at 4.25%-4.5%.
At the Jackson Hole symposium in mid-August, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled a possible rate cut, saying the central bank’s policy stance “may warrant adjustment” given shifting risks.
In addition, President Donald Trump’s move to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook has added to gold’s appeal, raising concerns over the Fed’s independence.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as the escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to rattle investors, fuelling volatility in stocks and sending energy prices sharply higher.
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.
The European Commission sees no immediate impact on the European Union's security of oil supply from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it said in an email to EU governments, seen by Reuters on Monday (2 March).
Paramount Skydance emerged as the winner in a months-long battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery after streaming giant Netflix on Thursday refused to raise its bid for the storied Hollywood studio.
Global debt surged to a record $348.3 trillion at the end of 2025, after nearly $29 trillion was added over the year, marking the fastest annual increase since the pandemic, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF) report released on Wednesday.
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