Hedge Funds, Insurers Rush to Gauge Exposure as Iran Spirals

Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran on March 1.
Photographer: Fariba/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

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By Bei Hu, Betty Hou, and Cathy Chan

March 2, 2026 at 1:53 AM UTC

Updated on

March 2, 2026 at 6:10 AM UTC

Hedge funds, banks and insurers rushed to size up their exposure to the Middle East after weekend attacks on Iran fueled chaos across the region.

Some of Taiwan’s largest life insurers, including Cathay Life Insurance Co. and Nan Shan Life Insurance Co., conducted internal reviews of their exposure to the Middle East over the weekend after news of the attacks broke, according to people familiar with the matter. Barclays Plc redeployed more than 30 people to work Sunday to cover New Zealand’s market open on Monday, which offered an early gauge of sentiment. Traders at Singapore-based Dymon Asia Capital were also awake to cover the Wellington open.