Iran War: European Stocks Fall as Energy Costs Surge Again | The Opening Trade 3/19/2026

Stocks in Europe and Asia slumped after a fresh surge in oil and gas prices intensified concerns that the war in the Middle East will stoke inflation and hit growth. Bonds tumbled amid a second day of major central bank meetings.

The selloff comes as Brent extended gains since the start of the conflict to 48%, climbing above $114 a barrel after Israel and Iran traded strikes on energy facilities in the Middle East. European natural gas jumped as much as 35% after damage to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export plant.

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