Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
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US Stock Futures Steady as Investors Await Payrolls Data and Monitor Iran Tensions 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
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.
