Event: Hong Kong’s

Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices rose 1.4 per cent in March, bringing the first-quarter increase to an accelerated pace of 4.4 per cent, according to the latest official data, indicating the property market’s resilience despite uncertainties brought about by the US-Israel war on Iran.The monthly increase was slower than February’s 1.8 per cent, but 2026’s first-quarter rise was faster than the 2.11 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2025.The city’s rental prices also extended their upwards streak that began in February 2023 to reach another historic high, data from the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) released on Tuesday showed.The latest data reflected the first full month of movement of the city’s second-hand home prices following the conflict that began with coordinated strikes on Tehran’s crucial government and military sites on February 28.The conflict rattled global markets as oil prices skyrocketed, raising fears of a tightening monetary stance as a way to control inflation. The war had de-escalated in recent weeks following a ceasefire declared earlier this month.“While uncertainties surrounding the US-Iran conflict may cause oil prices to spike and keep interest rate fluctuations in focus, major banks have already begun raising property valuations in response to the warming market,” Tsang Bo-man, senior associate director of valuation and advisory services at Colliers Hong Kong, said.

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 28 April 2026 05:02 BST US and Iran clashed at the United Nations during a conference reviewing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, after Tehran was selected as one of the vice presidents of the meeting. Washington described the move as an “insult” to the treaty, accusing Iran of failing to meet its nuclear obligations and not fully cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran rejected the accusations, saying the US lacks credibility to judge compliance, noting it is the only country to have used nuclear weapons.

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 28 April 2026 02:04 BST The US Central Command said its guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta stopped the Iranian-flagged tanker M/T Stream after it attempted to sail towards an Iranian port, describing the move as part of the United States blockade of Iran’s ports. Maritime data from MarineTraffic shows that the vessel had last been tracked in the Malacca Strait. Iran’s foreign ministry has previously accused Washington of “piracy and armed robbery” over similar interceptions involving Iran-linked tankers. Guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) enforces the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports against M/T Stream after it attempted to sail to an Iranian port, April 26. pic.twitter.com/mPCIp5rLlO — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 28, 2026

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would intensify economic pressure on Iran, warning that the country’s oil sector is under strain due to the US blockade.   Bessent wrote in a post on X: "While the surviving IRGC Leaders are trapped like drowning rats in a sewage pipe, Iran’s creaking oil industry is starting to shut in production thanks to the U.S. BLOCKADE. Pumping will soon collapse. GASOLINE SHORTAGES IN IRAN NEXT!" Earlier, Bessent had warned that companies providing services to Iranian airlines could face sanctions under what he described as “Economic Fury”. He said the United States would take action against third parties facilitating business with Iranian entities as part of its broader pressure campaign. While the surviving IRGC Leaders are trapped like drowning rats in a sewage pipe, Iran’s creaking oil industry is starting to shut in production thanks to the U.S. BLOCKADE. Pumping will soon collapse. GASOLINE SHORTAGES IN IRAN NEXT! https://t.co/Czgy9VsHBO — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 27, 2026

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that companies providing services to Iranian airlines could face sanctions under what he called “Economic Fury”, as the United States intensifies pressure on Iran. “Foreign governments should take all actions necessary to ensure that companies in their jurisdictions do not provide services to those aircraft, including the provision of jet fuel, catering, landing fees or maintenance,” Bessent said in a post on X. Bessent added that Washington “will impose maximum pressure on Iran and will not hesitate to act against any third parties that facilitate or conduct business with Iranian entities”. The US has already expanded sanctions to include a refinery in China and multiple shipping companies it says are involved in transporting Iranian oil. Doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines risks exposure to U.S. sanctions. Foreign governments should take all actions necessary to ensure that companies in their jurisdictions do not provide services to those aircraft, including the provision of jet fuel, catering,… — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 27, 2026