{"id":59274,"date":"2026-03-01T03:38:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T07:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-volatility-as-u-s-israel-strikes-kill-khamenei-strait-of-hormuz-traffic-halts\/59274\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T03:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T07:38:31","slug":"global-markets-braced-for-volatility-as-u-s-israel-strikes-kill-khamenei-strait-of-hormuz-traffic-halts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-volatility-as-u-s-israel-strikes-kill-khamenei-strait-of-hormuz-traffic-halts\/59274\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Braced for Volatility as U.S.-Israel Strikes Kill Khamenei; Strait of Hormuz Traffic Halts"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Strait of Hormuz has reached a near-total standstill<\/strong> following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with only Iranian and Chinese vessels currently risking passage through the critical energy chokepoint.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed<\/strong> in a targeted airstrike, an event confirmed by Iranian state media that has triggered massive retaliatory missile barrages across the Middle East.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Oil and shipping markets are in a state of shock<\/strong> as major carriers including <strong>Nippon Yusen (<a href=\"\/stock\/9101\">9101<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Mitsui OSK Lines (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSLOY\">MSLOY<\/a>)<\/strong> suspend all operations in the Persian Gulf.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nvidia (<a href=\"\/stock\/NVDA\">NVDA<\/a>)<\/strong> has launched a strategic push for <strong>AI-native 6G networks<\/strong>, partnering with telecom leaders to integrate artificial intelligence into the core of future mobile infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China\u2019s real estate crisis deepened in February<\/strong>, as new home prices recorded their sharpest decline in over three years, further weighing on the world&#39;s second-largest economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Global energy and financial markets are facing an unprecedented crisis following the confirmation that <strong>Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/strong> was killed during a massive joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel, codenamed <strong>&quot;Operation Epic Fury.&quot;<\/strong> The Israeli Air Force reportedly utilized over <strong>1,200 shells<\/strong> and precision munitions in the initial wave, targeting Iranian command centers and missile arrays. In retaliation, Iran launched a series of ballistic missile strikes that struck targets in <strong>Tel Aviv<\/strong> and <strong>Beit Shemesh<\/strong> near Jerusalem, with the Israeli army confirming at least one building was hit after an interception failure.<\/p>\n<p>The conflict has effectively severed the world&#39;s primary artery for crude oil, as the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> is now at a standstill. Tracking imagery shows vessels backed up at both ends of the strait, unwilling to navigate the waterway amid reports of <strong>Iranian Revolutionary Guard<\/strong> broadcasts warning that no ships are permitted to pass. <em>Energy analysts warn that a prolonged closure could send gas prices for American drivers soaring<\/em>, as nearly 20% of global oil supply typically transits the region daily.<\/p>\n<p>Diplomatic tensions have reached a breaking point, with the <strong>U.S. Embassy in Baghdad<\/strong> coming under direct attack by protesters and the <strong>U.S. Embassy in Bahrain<\/strong> authorizing the evacuation of non-essential personnel. The <strong>International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)<\/strong> has called for an extraordinary meeting this Monday to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation regarding Iran&#39;s nuclear and military facilities. <em>Market participants are closely watching for a potential &quot;war-risk premium&quot; to be priced into global equities and commodities when trading resumes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the technology sector, <strong>Nvidia (<a href=\"\/stock\/NVDA\">NVDA<\/a>)<\/strong> is moving to capitalize on the next generation of connectivity by throwing its weight behind <strong>AI-native 6G phone networks<\/strong>. The initiative, announced ahead of MWC Barcelona, involves a coalition including <strong>T-Mobile US (<a href=\"\/stock\/TMUS\">TMUS<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Nokia (<a href=\"\/stock\/NOK\">NOK<\/a>)<\/strong> to ensure future networks can support the massive computational demands of edge AI. <em>This move signals a fundamental shift in telecommunications, as providers look to software-defined infrastructure to drive the next wave of digital services.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, China\u2019s economic recovery remains elusive as a private survey revealed that <strong>new home prices fell at their fastest pace in over three years<\/strong> this February. The persistent slump in the property sector continues to discourage consumer spending and complicates Beijing&#39;s efforts to stabilize the national economy. Domestically in the U.S., social tensions remain high following a mass shooting in <strong>Cincinnati, Ohio<\/strong>, where 13 people were shot, adding to a sense of heightened insecurity alongside the escalating international crisis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways The Strait of Hormuz has reached a near-total standstill following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with only Iranian 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