Marketplace All-in-One War sends cargo to the skies
Mar 3, 2026
Greg Ip, chief economics commentator at The Wall Street Journal, offers sharp macro and market analysis. He discusses how Middle East conflict is rerouting cargo and pushing more goods onto aircraft. He breaks down bond and dollar moves tied to inflation fears. Short takes on holiday retail results, auto sales trends, and a listings clash round out the conversation.
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Oil Spikes Push Bond Yields Up
- Bond yields rose because higher oil prices raise inflation worries, reducing expectations for Fed rate cuts.
- Higher yields mean falling bond prices and likely keep mortgage rates from dropping much further below 6%.
Dollar Returns To Safe Haven Status
- The dollar's recent rally reflects a return to the safe-haven role amid new Middle East conflict, reversing last year's trend.
- Last year the dollar fell because the U.S. was seen as a source of instability from trade tensions.
Short War Timeline Raises Political Stakes
- The administration likely expects a short conflict timeline of four to six weeks to achieve strategic aims.
- If goals aren't met quickly and economic pain accumulates, political pressure rises given the president's sensitivity to market performance.