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Iran war revives pandemic-era shocks – and may go further

By the time this column appears, the world will feel very different from when my previous column appeared earlier this month. In just days, a conflict that some in Washington seemed to believe would quickly topple Iran’s leadership has instead become a potentially long and uncertain war, with little clarity on how or when it will end. The front lines will have shifted, more oil tankers will have been stuck at sea and more flights cancelled, and there will almost certainly have been further...

Mar 20, 2026 &03302020202631; 01:30 UTC www.scmp.com Trending 4/5

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Neutral impact

Sentiment score: 0/100

Low impact Short-term (days)

WHAT THIS MEANS

Rule-based L2: NEUTRAL signal from SCMP Business

AI CONFIDENCE

60% High

SENTIMENT GAUGE

NEWS POWER SCORE

AFFECTED ASSETS

⇅

Oil (WTI Crude)

CL=FCommodity

High volatility expected

Iran war revives pandemic-era shocks – and may go further

PRICE HISTORY

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⚡ SUGGESTED ACTION

No clear directional signal

Analysis generated on Mar 21, 2026 at 15:37 UTC

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by artificial intelligence for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendation, or solicitation. Original reporting by SCMP Business. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Iran war revives pandemic-era shocks – and may go further

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