What were the key news and developments shaping the economy this week? The conflict with Iran in the Middle East stood out as the most significant factor impacting the global economy. This tension deeply shook energy markets, with Brent crude oil prices rising to $116 per barrel, reaching one of their highest levels in decades. European natural gas prices also increased by 30%, and the global energy crisis reached a level exceeding the oil shocks of the 1970s. These developments, combined with disruptions in energy supply, strengthened inflationary pressures and led to downward revisions of growth forecasts worldwide.

The US economy, however, showed resilience with its March employment data. The country created 178,000 new jobs, significantly exceeding expectations, and the unemployment rate fell. Nevertheless, wage growth slowed, paving the way for the Fed to maintain a cautious stance on interest rate decisions. The Fed, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of Japan decided to keep interest rates unchanged, citing uncertainty. These steps reflect an effort to manage inflation risks while also demonstrating that they are closely monitoring the medium-term economic impacts of geopolitical developments.

Global stock markets ended the week with volatility, experiencing short-lived recoveries on hopes of de-escalation, but volatility continued due to rising oil prices. Service sector activity in China showed signs of slowing, increasing fragility in Asian economies. Overall, this week was recorded as a period where the energy shock and geopolitical risks disrupted the balance between global growth and inflation. Investors and policymakers expect a clearer picture in the coming weeks, depending on the duration of the conflict and the recovery in energy supply

👉 Key headlines from last week:

1. Iran demanded that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz pay fees in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan.
2. Charles Schwab, managing $12 trillion in assets, plans to launch spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum in the first half of 2026.
3. President Trump proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget, the largest annual increase in US military spending in the post-war period.
4. Elon Musk announced that Tesla made a significant investment in Japan.
5. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned that the US national debt is growing significantly faster than the economy and that the current trajectory is unsustainable.
6. Elon Musk's SpaceX company has filed a confidential application for an initial public offering.

These developments are accelerating the integration of crypto assets into mainstream financial systems and demonstrate how global geopolitical risks are significantly impacting market dynamics. As institutional participation increases, assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are reaching a broader investor base, while trends in national debt and defense spending should be closely monitored for macroeconomic stability.
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