{"id":59246,"date":"2026-02-28T02:38:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T02:38:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:38:33","slug":"global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets on Edge: Middle East Conflict Escalates as Lithium Giant SQM Signals Rebound"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#Geopolitical_Flashpoints_Middle_East_and_South_Asia\" >Geopolitical Flashpoints: Middle East and South Asia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#Corporate_Commodity_Spotlight_SQM_and_Lithium\" >Corporate &amp; Commodity Spotlight: SQM and Lithium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#The_AI_Defense_Standoff_OpenAI_vs_Anthropic\" >The AI Defense Standoff: OpenAI vs. Anthropic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#Macroeconomic_Space_Developments\" >Macroeconomic &amp; Space Developments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-on-edge-middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-lithium-giant-sqm-signals-rebound\/59246\/#Political_Regulatory_Updates\" >Political &amp; Regulatory Updates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Imminent Geopolitical Risk<\/strong>: Israeli officials have warned of an <strong>imminent drone and missile attack from Iran<\/strong>, sending shockwaves through global energy and defense markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lithium Market Recovery<\/strong>: Top producer SQM (<a href=\"\/stock\/SQM\">SQM<\/a>) reported a <strong>53% jump in fourth-quarter profit<\/strong> and forecasts <strong>25% global demand growth<\/strong> for the battery metal this year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>AI Defense Standoff<\/strong>: Anthropic has announced it will <strong>challenge the &quot;supply chain risk&quot; label in court<\/strong> after the U.S. government barred federal agencies from using its products.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China\u2019s Business Surge<\/strong>: Official data shows China registered an average of <strong>26,000 new enterprises per day in 2025<\/strong>, totaling <strong>25.74 million new businesses<\/strong> nationwide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>South Asia Escalation<\/strong>: Pakistan and Afghanistan have moved closer to <strong>all-out war<\/strong> following a series of cross-border strikes and escalating regional tensions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Flashpoints_Middle_East_and_South_Asia\"><\/span>Geopolitical Flashpoints: Middle East and South Asia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Global security concerns reached a fever pitch on Saturday as Israeli officials announced they expect a <strong>drone and missile attack from Iran shortly<\/strong>. This development follows a series of <strong>Israeli airstrikes targeting the Qatrani Heights<\/strong> in southern Lebanon, further destabilizing a region already reeling from months of friction. U.S. Secretary of State <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong> is scheduled to visit Israel next week to address the rising tensions and attempt to revive stalled Gaza peace talks.<\/p>\n<p>In South Asia, the border between <strong>Pakistan and Afghanistan<\/strong> has become a front for potential full-scale conflict. Both nations edged closer to <strong>all-out war<\/strong> this week, with Pakistan&#39;s defense minister declaring a state of &quot;open war&quot; following retaliatory strikes. The escalation is being closely monitored by global superpowers vying for influence in the strategically critical region.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, former President Trump commented on the U.S. relationship with <strong>Belarus<\/strong>, stating the two nations have a &quot;VERY GOOD relationship&quot; and expressing high respect for the country&#39;s leader. In Eastern Europe, Russia claimed to have destroyed <strong>Ukrainian support centers in Zaporizhzhia<\/strong> using precise strikes, maintaining the high intensity of the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Corporate_Commodity_Spotlight_SQM_and_Lithium\"><\/span>Corporate &amp; Commodity Spotlight: SQM and Lithium<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chilean lithium giant SQM (<a href=\"\/stock\/SQM\">SQM<\/a>) provided a significant boost to the commodities sector, reporting that <strong>fourth-quarter profit jumped 53%<\/strong>. The company achieved <strong>record quarterly sales volumes<\/strong>, signaling that the lithium industry is successfully emerging from a prolonged global glut.<\/p>\n<p>SQM (<a href=\"\/stock\/SQM\">SQM<\/a>) management remains bullish on the transition to green energy, forecasting that <strong>world demand for battery-grade lithium will grow by approximately 25%<\/strong> this year. This optimism is driven by the continued expansion of electric vehicle (EV) production and large-scale energy storage systems. Analysts note that <em>heavy-asset industries with low obsolescence are becoming the &quot;coin of the realm&quot;<\/em> as markets are increasingly influenced by AI-driven efficiencies.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_AI_Defense_Standoff_OpenAI_vs_Anthropic\"><\/span>The AI Defense Standoff: OpenAI vs. Anthropic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The landscape for defense-related artificial intelligence has shifted dramatically. <strong>OpenAI<\/strong> announced a new partnership with the <strong>Pentagon<\/strong>, which includes specific ethical safeguards for the use of its models in military applications. This deal contrasts sharply with the situation facing rival <strong>Anthropic<\/strong>, which is now heading to court.<\/p>\n<p>Anthropic intends to <strong>challenge the &quot;supply chain risk&quot; designation<\/strong> recently applied by the U.S. government. The label has effectively barred federal agencies from utilizing Anthropic\u2019s products, a move the company describes as <em>unprecedented and legally unsound<\/em>. The dispute highlights the growing tension between AI developers&#39; ethical guardrails and the military&#39;s demand for unrestricted technological access.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Macroeconomic_Space_Developments\"><\/span>Macroeconomic &amp; Space Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>China\u2019s National Bureau of Statistics reported robust entrepreneurial activity, with <strong>25.74 million new businesses<\/strong> established in 2025. This represents an average of <strong>26,000 new enterprises per day<\/strong>, highlighting the resilience of the domestic economy despite unpredictable global trade policies. In Malaysia, the largest pension fund declared a <strong>6.15% dividend<\/strong> for 2025, navigating a year characterized by high market volatility.<\/p>\n<p>In the aerospace sector, <strong>NASA<\/strong> is undergoing a complete overhaul of its <strong>Artemis moon programme<\/strong>. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman cited &quot;credible competition&quot; from geopolitical adversaries as the primary driver for the restructuring. The agency aims to <strong>standardize vehicle configurations<\/strong> and increase launch frequency to ensure American leadership in the lunar domain.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_Regulatory_Updates\"><\/span>Political &amp; Regulatory Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>U.S. Commerce Secretary <strong>Howard Lutnick<\/strong> is facing renewed scrutiny from Congress after a photograph allegedly showing him with <strong>Jeffrey Epstein<\/strong> was briefly removed and then restored to a Justice Department website. Lutnick has denied any wrongdoing, stating he has &quot;nothing to hide&quot; regarding his past interactions.<\/p>\n<p>In state politics, the <strong>Washington House majority leader<\/strong> issued a public apology for being &quot;impaired&quot; during a crucial budget hearing. In the digital asset space, <strong>Bitwise<\/strong> executive Matt Hougan dismissed rumors of a &quot;Bitcoin conspiracy,&quot; characterizing the reality of the market as &quot;more boring&quot; than the theories suggested by social media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Imminent Geopolitical Risk: Israeli officials have warned of an imminent drone and missile attack from Iran, sending shockwaves 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