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Oil falls as reports of proposals spurs ceasefire hopes

Oil prices sank about 5% today after reports the US had sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war, prompting talk of progress toward a ceasefire and despite Israel and Iran exchanging airstrikes.

Business • 2 hrs

a German flag with a candle stick graph imposed on it

German business morale falls as war puts recovery on ice

German business morale fell in March as the war in the Middle East puts hopes of a recovery in Europe's struggling top economy "on ice", a key survey showed today.

Business • 3 hrs

A computer generated image of Primark's planned new store in Dubai Mall

Primark to open first Dubai store despite Iran war

Budget fashion retailer Primark has confirmed it will press ahead with opening its first Dubai store tomorrow despite the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, during which the emirate has been hit by Iranian missiles and drones.

Business • 3 hrs

A woman in a grey suit speaks at a podium with the European Union flag in the background

ECB may need to act on 'not-too-persistent' inflation

Even a "not-too-persistent" overshoot of the European Central Bank's inflation target from the current energy shock may warrant some moderate policy tightening, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today.

Business • 3 hrs

Australia's inflation slows slightly ahead of war shock

Australian consumer prices were flat in February as prices for domestic holidays and petrol dipped, while core inflation came in a little slower than forecast, though a war-driven spike in oil prices has since magnified inflationary risks.

Business • 3 hrs

UK inflation holds at 3% in February ahead of likely jump

British consumer price inflation held at 3% in February, unchanged from January's rate, official figures showed today, ahead of a likely upward lurch as war in the Middle East pushes up prices.

Business • 3 hrs

Nash urges cut in transport fares, expand remote work

Labour's Finance spokesperson Ged Nash has today urged the Government to immediately introduce a 10% reduction in public transport fares and expand access to working from home.

Business • 24 Mar

Euro zone growth nearly stalls as war fuels inflation

Euro zone private sector growth slowed sharply in March as the Middle East war drove input costs to their highest in more than three years and triggered the worst supply chain disruptions since mid-2022, a survey showed today.

Business • 24 Mar

a stack of rice bags in Japan beside a price sign in yen

Japan inflation slows but Mideast war could see new rise

Japan's inflation slowed in February, government data showed today, although it could soon rise again as the Middle East war sparks surges in oil prices.

Business • 24 Mar

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai

Oil prices rise as supply disruption persists

Oil rallied today as the world's biggest supply disruption persisted and Iran denied it held talks with the United States to end the war in the Gulf, contradicting US President Donald Trump, who said a deal could be reached soon.

Business • 21 hrs

A white and orange Easyjet plane flying in the sky

EasyJet warns Iran war will push up ticket prices

Discount airline EasyJet's CEO said today that ticket prices will rise towards the end of the summer due to the Iran war, adding that the conflict was driving bookings to destinations like Spain and away from Turkey and Cyprus.

Business • 23 Mar

Sweden to cut fuel tax over Middle East war fallout

Sweden's government said today it was proposing to lower taxes on petrol and diesel temporarily, as energy prices soar due to the war in the Middle East.

Business • 23 Mar

ECB will act if inflation at risk of getting entrenched

The European Central Bank will not hesitate to tighten policy if the coming energy-driven inflation surge looks like becoming entrenched, keeping price growth elevated for an extended period, ECB policymaker Peter Kazimir said today.

Business • 23 Mar

Applied Nutrition shares plummet after warning of war hit

Shares in Applied Nutrition plummeted in early trade today after the British supplements maker forecast "some" reduction in volumes in the Middle East due to the Iran conflict, even as it kept its annual revenue outlook unchanged.

Business • 23 Mar

A business man stands on a high-tech stage with Siemens signage to the side

Customers holding back on investments due to war: Siemens

German industrial giant Siemens said today that the Iran war has led to customers holding back on new investments as prices increase for raw materials and energy.

Business • 23 Mar

Oil sinks after Trump postpones strikes on Iranian plants

Oil prices dropped about 10% to a one-week low today after US President Donald Trump said he would postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days after constructive talks.

Business • 23 Mar

Gold prices dropped more than 10% last week - its worst week since February 1983

Gold trims losses as Trump postpones strikes on Iran

Gold trimmed losses to recover from a four-month low today, after US President Donald Trump postponed military strikes on Iranian infrastructure, but prices were still down for a ninth session in a row as bets on higher interest rates dimmed the metal's appeal.

Business • 23 Mar

Bank of Ireland said the recent surge in petrol and diesel will add to the increase in the cost of living

Bank of Ireland warns inflation could reach 4%

The recent sharp rise in energy prices is likely to push the rate of inflation this month to between 3.5% and 4% - up from 2.7% in February, according to Bank of Ireland.

Ireland • 23 Mar

Rising fertiliser costs lead to warning over food prices

Experts are warning of a jump of up to 10% in food prices as a result of sustained input cost rises for farmers due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Ireland • 23 Mar

M&A activity to accelerate despite war - Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs expects mergers and acquisitions activity to be on the upswing this year despite the disruption caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran, CEO David Solomon said today.

Business • 20 Mar

Big central banks keep options open amid war fears

Nearly all major developed market central banks kept rates unchanged this week, but emphasised their readiness to act to curb inflation should the energy ⁠shock caused by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran drive a broader surge in prices.

Business • 20 Mar

Fuel prices see sharp rise in March - AA Ireland

AA Ireland's latest monthly fuel price survey shows a notable increase in both diesel and petrol prices during March, with diesel experiencing the largest jump.

Business • 20 Mar

Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas was one of the few commercial vessels that Iran has allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices rise despite efforts to open Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices rose again despite the US outlining moves to manage the oil supply crisis, while leading European nations, Japan and Canada offered to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Business • 21 Mar

Petrol and diesel prices on a totem sign at a petrol station in Germany

How are European governments tackling surging fuel costs?

As oil and gas prices surge as a result of the Iran war, countries around the world have been coming under increasing pressure to ease the burden on citizens.

World • 20 Mar

Explainer: Why is diesel so expensive right now?

Diesel car owners are feeling the pinch at the pumps, as prices have soared in the past month since the start of the US-Israeli conflict.

Business • 20 Mar

Middle East turmoil

Oil falls as reports of proposals spurs ceasefire hopes

German business morale falls as war puts recovery on ice

Primark to open first Dubai store despite Iran war

ECB may need to act on 'not-too-persistent' inflation

Australia's inflation slows slightly ahead of war shock

UK inflation holds at 3% in February ahead of likely jump

Nash urges cut in transport fares, expand remote work

Euro zone growth nearly stalls as war fuels inflation

Japan inflation slows but Mideast war could see new rise

Oil prices rise as supply disruption persists

EasyJet warns Iran war will push up ticket prices

Sweden to cut fuel tax over Middle East war fallout

ECB will act if inflation at risk of getting entrenched

Applied Nutrition shares plummet after warning of war hit

Customers holding back on investments due to war: Siemens

Oil sinks after Trump postpones strikes on Iranian plants

Gold trims losses as Trump postpones strikes on Iran

Bank of Ireland warns inflation could reach 4%

Rising fertiliser costs lead to warning over food prices

M&A activity to accelerate despite war - Goldman Sachs

Big central banks keep options open amid war fears

Fuel prices see sharp rise in March - AA Ireland

Oil prices rise despite efforts to open Strait of Hormuz

How are European governments tackling surging fuel costs?

Explainer: Why is diesel so expensive right now?