Iran War's Economic Shockwave: Global Stocks Plunge as Supply Disruptions Hit Diverse Industries

• Global stocks have lost 5.5% since the Iran conflict began, heading for their worst monthly performance since 2022, with Asia being the hardest hit.
• Supply disruptions, initially energy-focused, are now 'metastasizing' to diverse sectors including chipmakers, food delivery, automakers, and retailers.
• Qatar's LNG plant closure has taken a third of global helium production offline, threatening chipmakers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC due to its essential role.
• Rising oil prices are increasing costs for food delivery firms (Eternal, Swiggy), automakers (Ford, Toyota, Hyundai), and retailers (Lululemon, Nike), while boosting electric cook-top makers.
• Fertilizers, chemicals, and metals sectors face significant supply chain bottlenecks via the Strait of Hormuz, leading to price hikes and renewed interest in alternative energy.