View this email in your browser THE IRISH TIMES Business Today Tuesday, 07 April, 2026 Editor's Note Good morning, reader Homeowners face the prospect of higher electricity and natural gas bills if the war in Iran does not end in weeks, industry figures said at the weekend, as oil prices fluctuated at about $110 a barrel early on Monday following US president Donald Trump’s threats on Sunday to target Iran’s infrastructure if the country does not open the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, writes Barry O’Halloran. Crude prices are up about 50 per cent since the conflict began. EU officials are separately urging governments to avoid excessive support to offset surging energy prices, warning that the shock triggered by the Iran war could tip into a fiscal crisis. The oil at the centre of the energy crisis is a commodity, as are coffee, cotton and gold, among others. These things are central to our daily lives but how do you go about investing in them? Fiona Reddan takes you through the process and the costs in our ongoing How to Invest series. Continue Reading Dominic Coyle   TOP BUSINESS STORIES Business Bureau Veritas reaches deal to acquire Sligo-based Lotusworks Markets Stocks stumble, oil above $110 as Trump's Iran deadline nears Economy Increase in services sector activity among the weakest in five years Financial Services Credit unions take step towards combining treasury functions to aid lending Financial Services Private credit losses will be larger than feared, JP Morgan Chase boss warns Gideon Rachman Trump is hastening Britain’s return to the EU MORE BUSINESS STORIES Business Michael Healy-Rae property business got €113,000 from State for housing Ukrainians last year Work Mandate union suspends five activists in dispute over confidential settlements Work Frustration over delay to pay transparency that could level playing field for job applicants Business Drumshanbo gin maker: ‘It’s very difficult to put a price increase through because the consumer is not willing to pay more’