Hormuz Tensions Rise After UAE Tankers Hit | Horizons Middle East & Africa 7/14/2026

Published 14 July 2026 · finance

Global markets are reacting to another sharp escalation in the Middle East after President Trump reinstated a blockade on Iranian shipping, declaring the US would

Global markets are reacting to another sharp escalation in the Middle East after President Trump reinstated a blockade on Iranian shipping, declaring the US would "keep the Strait" and proposing a 20% levy on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices extended their rally as geopolitical risks intensified following reports that the IRGC struck communication facilities, US staff housing, and weapons depots linked to military bases in Bahrain. The United Arab Emirates also reported that two tankers were hit along the southern shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies. We also examine growing expectations for further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes ahead of the latest US inflation data, as traders assess the inflationary impact of the conflict.

In technology, SK Hynix shares fluctuated after a Wall Street selloff in AI memory stocks, while Huawei and Apple gained support in China amid ongoing memory supply disruptions. Riyadh is reportedly in discussions with Airbus and Boeing over new aircraft orders, and several US states are preparing legal action over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. deal. Elsewhere, South Africa plans its first strategic emergency oil stockpile since the apartheid era with a 60-day reserve target, Kenya is considering a $500 million Eurobond buyback, and the European Union has imposed new sanctions on Sudan's gold trade as the country's civil war continues. Guests Includes Dimitris Maniatis, Marisks CEO, Ben Powell, BlackRock Investment Institute Chief Middle East & APAC Investment Strategist; Carla Slim, Standard Chartered Chief Economist Middle East & Pakistan; and ED Bastian, Delta Air Lines CEO.

Horizons Middle East & Africa is your daily spotlight on one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Live from Dubai, we bring you the latest global markets and analysis, plus news-making interviews, with a special focus on MEA. All that and more, as you head to the office in the Gulf, pause for lunch in Hong Kong, or start your day in London or Johannesburg. Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:59 - 1000 Days of War 00:07:19 - Dimitris Maniatis, Marisks CEO 00:14:12 - Ben Powell, BlackRock Investment Institute Chief Middle East & APAC Investment Strategist 00:26:40 - Carla Slim, Standard Chartered Chief Economist Middle East & Pakistan 00:32:30 - Ed Bastian, Delta Air Lines CEO 00:35:43 - South Africa Plans First Emergency Oil Stockpile Buildup Since 1970s 00:40:52 - Wall Street Banks Set to Pull in $39B From Trading More on Bloomberg Television and Markets Like this video?