Meanwhile, in the US, the monthly jobs report showed employment growth exceeded projections and the unemployment rate fell. USJob growth rebounded in March and the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell, suggesting the labour market was stabilising as the Iran war began. The retail figures indicate consumer demand was holding up ahead of the Iran war, helped by wage growth that is outpacing inflation and larger tax refunds. UK house prices unexpectedly surged in March, according to one of the country’s largest mortgage lenders, as demand appeared to hold up at the start of the Iran war. China’s central bank withdrew cash from its financial system for the first time in a year, a cautious signal that keeps its policy options open as higher oil prices filter through the economy.

Source: The Edge Markets April 04, 2026 09:57 UTC