Brent’s surge above US$100 signals a structural shift in how geopolitics, inflation and financial markets interact. Oil markets are increasingly shaped by geopolitics and strategic chokepoints, with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz amplifying global energy risk premiums. KEY TAKEAWAYS Oil is now driving the global macro cycle. Brent crude near US$104 per barrel, up…
MARCH 18, 2026 A war in the Middle East is rapidly becoming Southeast Asia’s economic crisis, as oil shocks, trade disruptions and policy pressure test ASEAN’s resilience like never before. When the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on 28 February 2026, few in Southeast Asia expected the shockwaves to arrive so swiftly….
The four stories shaping Malaysia today. Thursday, 12 March 2026 Four stories that shaped Wednesday — and what to watch next 1. Anwar Holds the Line on RON95 Following Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that subsidised RON95 petrol under the Budi95 scheme will remain at RM1.99 per litre, despite rising…
Strategic Perspective by TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH March 9, 2026 KUALA LUMPUR, The resurgence of oil above US$100 per barrel, triggered by escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, is not merely a geopolitical headline — it represents a macroeconomic inflection point. Energy remains the most powerful transmission channel in the global economic system. When…
