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Houthis Signal Readiness for Iran Conflict, Heightening Global Shipping Fears Article

Houthi activists burn US and Israeli flags during a demonstration in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon, in Sanaa, Yemen. Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement has declared it is prepared to join the escalating conflict involving Iran, a move that could further destabilize global shipping routes and intensify economic pressures. A senior Houthi figure told Reuters the group is “fully militarily ready with all options,” noting that any decision to act would depend on developments in the wider regional war.  The Houthis, who previously disrupted Red Sea traffic during the Gaza conflict, may once again target the Bab al‑Mandab Strait—one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. The narrow passage connects the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, and renewed attacks could deepen the global oil and trade crisis already triggered by the Middle East conflict. Analysts suggest the group may be waiting for a strategic moment to open a new front in coordination with Iran, especially as the ...
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Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index Hits New Record Close of 40,913.65

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged Thursday to a record close of 40,913.65, leading markets in most of Asia higher. The index gained 0.8%, buoyed by heavy buying of technology and export-oriented shares. Investors worldwide are keen to see the Federal Reserve cut rates that it has been keeping at two-decade highs to slow growth and tame inflation, and hopes have been reviving that price pressures are easing enough to make that possible.

The Nikkei 225’s all-time high during intraday trading is 41,087.75, set on March 22. Its previous record close was 40,888.43, also set on March 22. Investors have piled into the Japanese market partly due to the cheapness of the Japanese yen, which is trading at 34-year lows against the dollar. A weak yen tends to push the profits of exporters higher when they are repatriated to Japan.

The Nikkei 225 index has gained 22.4% so far this year. It surged in the late 1980s during Japan’s bubble economy, when asset prices soared, but collapsed when that financial bubble imploded in early 1990 after hitting its earlier record of 38,915.87.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng recovered from early losses, rising 0.2% to 18,018.72, and the Shanghai Composite index shed 0.8% to 2,957.57. Taiwan’s Taiex jumped 1.5% as chip maker and market heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. gained 2.7%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 surged 1.2% to 7,831.80, while the Kospi in Seoul advanced 1.1% to 2,824.94. Bangkok’s SET jumped 0.9%.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks kept rising in a holiday-shortened session after weak reports on the economy kept the door open for possible cuts to interest rates. U.S. markets were closed Thursday for the Independence Day holiday. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to set an all-time high for a second straight day and for the 33rd time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.1% to 39,308.00, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9% to 18,188.30. Tesla again helped boost the market and rose 6.5% a day after reporting a milder drop in sales for the spring than analysts feared.


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