What strikes on the world’s largest natural gas sites could do to the global economy. The Iran war has driven oil prices to their highest levels in years. Now, a wave of attacks in the past 24 hours on energy production sites across the Middle East has turned the spotlight on another crucial fossil fuel: liquefied natural gas or LNG. (CNN Business)

Fed holds rates steady, flags uncertainty as oil price soars amid war. Fed policymakers, since setting the main interest rate at a range from 3.5% to 3.75%, have tried for several weeks to finely calibrate borrowing costs to conflicting risks posed by rising unemployment and accelerating inflation. (Supply Chain Dive)

White House says it’s not planning oil or gas export restrictions. Rumors of restrictions have swirled in recent days, and would represent a sea change after years of expanding shipments that have made the U.S. a huge player in global markets. (Axios)

EU resumes US trade deal with ‘multi-tiered safety net. The European Union has resumed work on implementing a framework trade deal with the United States, although with a new set of guardrails to address ongoing uncertainty about Trump administration tariffs. (Supply Chain Dive)

Shipping lines activate century old clause—shippers carry the risk. Rising risks in the Middle East are now directly affecting global shipping, with traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowing to a crawl and carriers reverting to rules that haven’t been widely used in decades. (IncoDocs)

Cuba invites exiles to invest in businesses on the island. Cuba on Monday extended an invitation to Cuban Americans and other exiles living abroad to invest in and own businesses on ‌the island, saying the “doors are open” to a community that has traditionally agitated for harsh economic sanctions against the Communist government. (Reuters)

OSCE nations agree on first budget in five years, make cuts demanded by US. The Organization for ‌Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a 57-nation east-west body comprising former Cold War foes, agreed on a budget on Thursday for the first time in five years, with heavy cuts demanded ​by the United States. (Reuters)

India’s outsourcing industry is worth $300bn. Can it survive AI? Indian technology stocks have seen an unprecedented rout over the past few weeks over fears of artificial intelligence upending the traditional outsourcing model that powers the country’s $300bn (£223bn) back-office industry. (BBC)

Japan’s Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of Hormuz. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump on Thursday after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz. (AP)

Swiss watch sector posts uptick in exports as geopolitical upheaval mounts. Swiss watch exports recorded an increase in February after a lackluster start to the year and ahead of a potential hit from the current geopolitical turmoil. Total exports of timepieces made in Switzerland rose to 2.2 billion Swiss francs ($2.77 billion) in February, according to figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, or FH, released Thursday. (Wall Street Journal)

Iran price shock set to hit products from cleaning to tires. Consumers are set to start feeling the impact of the Iran war beyond filling up their cars, with price jumps on ingredients for everyday cleaning products, tires and animal feed. (Bloomberg)

ECB and Bank of England to stand pat as Iran conflict upends forecasts. Europe’s central bankers will be in a familiar but uncomfortable position when they meet to decide policy Thursday: waiting for the fog of war to clear a little before they can pick out a safe path forward. (Wall Street Journal)