Markets rocked as US says Israel has struck Iran

After Tehran’s missile and drone barrage, Israel is said to have conducted retaliation strikes on Iran less than a week later. This has caused an increase in oil and gold prices. US officials report that oil prices have increased 1.8% to $88 per barrel, while gold momentarily approached a record high before reverting to around $2,400 per ounce. These developments are raising concerns about an escalating conflict in the Middle East, which might further disrupt markets.

Investors were keenly observing Israel’s response to Iran’s direct strike over the weekend with drones and missiles. They fear that disruptions to oil supplies may result from the Middle East war getting worse. The cost of living has increased globally over the last few years, in mostly because of increases in fuel and energy prices. The sudden spike in oil prices could lead to inflation. The commodity is used to make fuels like gasoline and diesel, and countries rely significantly on it for this purpose. 

Tensions have been high in the region since last weekend, as share markets and commodities around the world were rocked. The central Iranian city of Isfahan was the scene of many explosions close to a military installation and nuclear complex, and Iran’s air defenses fired shots at what appeared to be a few drones. Slightly further north, at Tabriz, eight hundred kilometers, another batch of drones was apparently shot down. While Tehran declared it had no immediate intentions to retaliate against Israel, the International Atomic Energy Agency verified that the nuclear sites had taken no damage.

Given the current state of uncertainty surrounding the Middle East and its future developments, it seems likely that the volatility will persist. Both gold and oil prices are predicted to decline from their recent highs while staying “high” in comparison to historical norms.

Following the reported strikes, bond markets also saw a rise as investors reduced the yields on government bonds and purchased them as safe-haven investments. As investors became concerned about inflation, the yield fell after rising for a week.