US-Iran Risks Hit Markets, Trump: Iran Has Just Days to Deal

The podcast analyzes the rising risk of military confrontation between the US and Iran, the state of China's economy, and the implications of trade deficits and inflation in Japan. Paul Dobson notes that while some risk is priced into energy markets, it's hard to discern Iran conflict concerns from broader themes. Consumer spending in China remains sluggish, with citizens paying down debt rather than investing. Despite tariff implementations, the US trade deficit widened, leading to a reorganization of global trade flows. In Japan, Prime Minister Takeichi plans to address inflation by reducing taxes and providing subsidies, while the Bank of Japan considers raising interest rates. Barbara Slavin expresses concerns about potential US military action against Iran, questioning the strategy and goals.