Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
MSCI's global equities index dropped Tuesday as geopolitical tensions led investors to flee riskier assets. Oil futures surged amid fears of supply disruptions after Iran's missile launch, which followed Israel’s actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both U.S. crude and Brent oil closed higher, gaining over 2%.
Wall Street's Mixed Reaction
While U.S. stocks closed above session lows, Treasury yields also pared declines on hopes that the Middle East conflict would not escalate further. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173.18 points (0.41%) to 33,520.97, the S&P 500 lost 53.73 points (0.93%) to 4,108.75, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 278.81 points (1.53%) to 17,910.36. The CBOE Volatility Index hit 19.25, its highest level since September 9.
Geopolitical Tensions and Domestic Concerns
The missile attack heightened safe-haven demand for the U.S. dollar and gold, with the dollar index rising 0.45% to 101.20 and gold prices climbing more than 1%. Compounding investor anxiety were concerns about potential disruptions to U.S. ocean shipping from a dockworkers' strike on the East and Gulf Coasts and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
“Markets were priced for perfection," said Carol Schleif, Chief Investment Officer at BMO Family Office. “Then you throw in the third factor of Iran firing missiles.”
Safe-Haven Assets Gain Ground
Spot gold rose 0.91% to $1,658.39 an ounce, with U.S. gold futures increasing 0.95% to $1,661.10. The Japanese yen and Swiss franc also saw gains as investors sought safer assets amidst heightened tensions and market volatility.
