Marketplace Morning Report The view of this economy from the boardroom
6 snips
Mar 10, 2026 Tim Walsh, Chair and CEO of KPMG US, shares concise takeaways from a CEO survey on AI, tariffs, and investment plans. Ben Kumar, head of equity strategy at Seven Investment Management, breaks down recent oil-market swings, geopolitical risks, and implications for commodities. Short, focused conversations on corporate sentiment, market moves, and where uncertainty still hangs.
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Why Oil Prices Jumped Then Fell Back
- Oil and markets spiked then retreated as traders priced geopolitical risk after the weekend and Asian market openings.
- Ben Kumar pointed to Strait of Hormuz transit risks, tanker insurance woes, and immediate supply-chain chokepoints driving volatility.
Sanctions Waivers Won't Fix Fertilizer Risks
- A potential presidential waiver of oil sanctions could ease fuel prices politically but won't solve deeper supply issues.
- Kumar warned the longer-lasting disruption may come from oil refining byproducts like sulfur and ammonia used for fertilizer, not just gasoline shortages.
Fertilizer Supply Could Cause Delayed Food Shocks
- Fertilizer supply is vulnerable because about half of the world's sulfur and 30–40% of ammonia come from Middle East refining byproducts.
- Missing timely fertilizer deliveries can disrupt planting cycles and create food supply effects a year later.