Ukraine Crisis: Markets react to Russian assault on nuclear power station; oil prices rise

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Updated 04 March 2022
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Ukraine Crisis: Markets react to Russian assault on nuclear power station; oil prices rise

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine took yet another dramatic turn on March 4 as its forces attacked a nuclear power plant.

The assault caused a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — the largest in Europe — prompting condemnation from world leaders.

The fire was extinguished by Ukranian emergency services, but Russia troops are believed to now be in control of the facility.

Highlights

  • Asian markets tumbled Friday and crude bounced as news that Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant was on fire after Russian shelling.
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency warned of “severe damage” if the reactors were hit, while Ukrainian authorities said the situation was now secured.
  • Tokyo and Hong Kong led losses across Asia while Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Manila and Wellington were also well down.
  • Crude oil prices rebounded on Friday as traders stayed away from Russian crude on concern shipments will be disrupted by Western sanctions.
  • Brent crude gained as high as $114.23 a barrel before trading little changed at $110.51 at midday in Riyadh. US benchmark WTI gained 0.5 percent to $108.17.
  • The Spanish clothing design and manufacturing company MANGO has taken the decision to temporarily suspend its operations in Russia, closing its stores, online platform, and the delivery of goods to the country.
  • The London Stock Exchange has suspended the trading of several Russian companies, including Sistema and Magnit.
  • Australia’s foreign minister says 45 million Australian dollars ($33 million) have been frozen in an Australian financial institution under new sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday declined to identify the institution or who owned the money.
  • Deutsche Bank revealed it has been stress-testing its operations given that it has a big technology centre in Russia and that it was assured of its ability to run its everyday business globally. 
  • London aluminum prices were set on Friday for their biggest weekly gain on record.
  • South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. said on Friday it has not decided when to resume operations at its assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, citing ongoing issues with components delivery.
  • Shipping and logistics group Maersk will sharply curtail its transport of goods to Belarus to comply with sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it said on Friday.
  • British supermarket group Sainsbury's has removed from sale all products that are 100% sourced from Russia. It will no longer sell two products – Russian Standard vodka and Karpayskiye black sunflower seeds. Sainsbury's also said it will re-name "Chicken Kiev" to "Chicken Kyiv".
  • On Thursday, the Co-operative and Morrisons both de-listed Russian Standard vodka.

Second firm ends DP World investments over CEO’s Epstein ties

Updated 11 February 2026
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Second firm ends DP World investments over CEO’s Epstein ties

  • British International Investment ‘shocked’ by allegations surrounding Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
  • Decision follows in footsteps of Canadian pension fund La Caisse

LONDON: A second financial firm has axed future investments in Dubai logistics giant DP World after emails surfaced revealing close ties between its CEO and Jeffrey Epstein, Bloomberg reported.

British International Investment, a $13.6 billion UK government-owned development finance institution, followed in the footsteps of La Caisse, a major Canadian pension fund.

“We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein files regarding (DP World CEO) Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,” a BII spokesman said in a statement.

“In light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company.”

The move follows the release by the US Department of Justice of a trove of emails highlighting personal ties between the CEO and Epstein.

The pair discussed the details of useful contacts in business and finance, proposed deals and made explicit reference to sexual encounters, the email exchanges show.

In 2021, BII — formerly CDC Group — said it would invest with DP World in an African platform, with initial ports in Senegal, Egypt and Somaliland. It committed $320 million to the project, with $400 million to be invested over several years.