New Zealand shares ended flat with a positive bias on Wednesday, while Asian shares were mixed after the US decided to extend the Iran ceasefire.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-linked inflation increased to 3.88 per cent in March, from 2.13 per cent in February 2026, the highest in 41 months, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.

As anticipated, U.S. inflation increased last month, primarily due to higher energy costs related to the Middle East conflict. However, core prices were unexpectedly lower.

Global food prices have risen for a second consecutive month, reaching their highest level since December, according to new data from the United Nations food agency.

France’s consumer price index (CPI) is projected to rise by 1.7 percent year-on-year in March, according to a preliminary estimate released Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).

South Korea is preparing a massive $17.3 billion emergency budget to shield its economy from the growing fallout of the conflict involving Iran, as energy concerns and market volatility intensify.

Producer prices in the United States rose faster than expected in February, signaling persistent inflationary pressures that analysts warn could intensify further amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a sharp and emotionally charged phase as XRP enters what many analysts describe as an oversold zone while traders simultaneously build unusually large short positions.

British stocks rose on Tuesday, snapping a losing streak alongside European peers after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the Middle East conflict may be nearing its conclusion, sparking a relief rally in stock markets as oil prices declined.