{"id":60828,"date":"2026-04-13T01:38:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T01:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:38:44","slug":"global-markets-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Shaken by US Naval Blockade of Iran; UK Greenlights Rolls-Royce Nuclear Project"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#Geopolitical_Tensions_Drive_Oil_Price_Surge\" >Geopolitical Tensions Drive Oil Price Surge<\/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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#UK_Advances_Nuclear_Ambitions_with_Rolls-Royce\" >UK Advances Nuclear Ambitions with Rolls-Royce<\/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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#Analysts_Bullish_on_Mining_and_Aerospace\" >Analysts Bullish on Mining and Aerospace<\/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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#Healthcare_and_Technology_Regulatory_Shifts\" >Healthcare and Technology Regulatory Shifts<\/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-shaken-by-us-naval-blockade-of-iran-uk-greenlights-rolls-royce-nuclear-project\/60828\/#International_Political_Developments\" >International Political Developments<\/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>US naval blockade of Iranian ports begins<\/strong>, triggering an immediate surge in energy markets with <strong>Brent crude jumping nearly 8%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK government awards a \u00a3300 million contract<\/strong> to support the deployment of <strong>Rolls-Royce (<a href=\"\/stock\/RR\">RR<\/a>)<\/strong> small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Citigroup and RBC issue target price upgrades<\/strong> for major industrial and mining players, including <strong>Glencore (<a href=\"\/stock\/GLEN\">GLEN<\/a>)<\/strong>, <strong>BHP Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>)<\/strong>, and <strong>Bombardier (<a href=\"\/stock\/BBD.B\">BBD.B<\/a>)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sanofi (<a href=\"\/stock\/SNY\">SNY<\/a>)<\/strong> secures expanded FDA approval for <strong>Dupixent<\/strong>, now covering pediatric patients under 12 for multiple chronic conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keiko Fujimori takes the lead<\/strong> in Peru\u2019s presidential election as official tallies reach 36%, signaling a likely runoff.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Tensions_Drive_Oil_Price_Surge\"><\/span>Geopolitical Tensions Drive Oil Price Surge<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Global energy markets are in a state of high volatility following President <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a>\u2019s announcement of a <strong>US naval blockade targeting all Iranian ports<\/strong>, effective April 13. The blockade, enforced by <strong>US Central Command (CENTCOM)<\/strong>, aims to interdict shipping to and from Iran while maintaining freedom of navigation for other Gulf allies.<\/p>\n<p>The move follows the collapse of ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad and has already sent <strong>WTI crude up 9%<\/strong> and <strong>Brent crude up 8%<\/strong> in early trading. Analysts warn that the blockade edges dangerously close to a direct confrontation with major Iranian oil consumers, particularly <strong>China<\/strong>, and could sustain high energy costs through the end of the year.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UK_Advances_Nuclear_Ambitions_with_Rolls-Royce\"><\/span>UK Advances Nuclear Ambitions with Rolls-Royce<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The British government has officially awarded a contract to facilitate the construction of the nation\u2019s first <strong>small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs)<\/strong>. The project, led by <strong>Rolls-Royce (<a href=\"\/stock\/RR\">RR<\/a>)<\/strong>, will focus on the Wylfa site in North Wales, where at least three 470-MW units are planned to bolster sovereign energy security.<\/p>\n<p>A <strong>\u00a3300 million ($396 million) agreement<\/strong> was signed with a joint venture to serve as the &quot;owner&#39;s engineer,&quot; overseeing design, safety, and commissioning. This milestone is expected to create up to <strong>3,000 jobs<\/strong> at peak construction and represents a &quot;golden age&quot; for British nuclear technology as the UK targets 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Analysts_Bullish_on_Mining_and_Aerospace\"><\/span>Analysts Bullish on Mining and Aerospace<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Equity markets saw a flurry of target price upgrades today as analysts reacted to shifting commodity and industrial trends. <strong>Citigroup<\/strong> raised its target for <strong>Glencore (<a href=\"\/stock\/GLEN\">GLEN<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>670p<\/strong> (up from 620p) and for <strong>BHP Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>2850p<\/strong> (up from 2800p), reflecting optimism in the mining sector.<\/p>\n<p>In the aerospace sector, <strong>RBC<\/strong> increased its target for <strong>Bombardier (<a href=\"\/stock\/BBD.B\">BBD.B<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>C$298<\/strong> from C$287, citing strong performance in the business jet market. Additionally, <strong>Peel Hunt<\/strong> significantly upgraded <strong>Rentokil Initial (<a href=\"\/stock\/RTO\">RTO<\/a>)<\/strong> with a new price target of <strong>454p<\/strong>, up from 352p, following improved market sentiment for the pest control giant.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Healthcare_and_Technology_Regulatory_Shifts\"><\/span>Healthcare and Technology Regulatory Shifts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the pharmaceutical sector, <strong>Sanofi (<a href=\"\/stock\/SNY\">SNY<\/a>)<\/strong> announced that the FDA has approved its blockbuster drug <strong>Dupixent<\/strong> for pediatric patients under the age of 12. The approval covers multiple type 2 inflammatory diseases, including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), marking a significant expansion of the drug&#39;s addressable market.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Meta Platforms (<a href=\"\/stock\/META\">META<\/a>)<\/strong> is facing regulatory pressure in Southeast Asia. The <strong>Philippines government<\/strong> has ordered the tech giant to tighten measures against &quot;panic-inducing&quot; fake news, specifically targeting viral hoaxes regarding the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and energy supply disruptions.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_Political_Developments\"><\/span>International Political Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In South America, <strong>Keiko Fujimori<\/strong> has moved ahead of Rafael Lopez Aliaga in the latest official tally of Peru\u2019s presidential election. With <strong>36% of the vote counted<\/strong>, the race remains highly fragmented among 35 candidates, making a June runoff almost certain as no contender is expected to reach the 50% threshold.<\/p>\n<p>In the aviation sector, <strong>Etihad Airways<\/strong> is aggressively expanding its footprint in Asia. The carrier announced a joint venture expansion and new weekly flights to <strong>China<\/strong>, aiming to enhance connectivity between Abu Dhabi and major hubs like Shanghai and Beijing through its partnership with China Eastern Airlines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways US naval blockade of Iranian ports begins, triggering an immediate surge in energy markets with Brent crude jumping 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