March 2, 2026 — Global financial markets were hit by a sharp shock during the Asian session, as a sudden escalation in Middle East tensions fully ignited risk-off sentiment. Over the weekend, reports of large-scale U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran — including the deaths of several senior officials, among them Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei — sent shockwaves through markets.
Spot gold opened with a sharp upside gap and surged as much as 1.5% intraday to USD 5,373.49/oz, marking a near one-month high. The rapid spillover of geopolitical risk, combined with a steady recovery in physical gold demand, pushed bullish sentiment close to overdrive.
Asset Performance and Fundamental Overview
1. U.S. Equity Market
Index Performance
- Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI): 48,977.92, down 1.05%
The index fell below the psychological 49,000 level, reflecting capital rotation away from cyclical sectors amid extreme geopolitical risk. - S&P 500 (SP500): 6,824.50, down 0.60%
Overall market risk appetite weakened. - Nasdaq 100 (NQ1): 24,777.25, down 0.91%
Growth and technology stocks remain highly sensitive to real-rate expectations and geopolitical uncertainty.
Stock in Focus
- Tesla (TSLA): USD 402.51, down 1.49%
Shares remain under pressure near the key psychological USD 400 level.
2. Foreign Exchange Market
- U.S. Dollar Index (DXY): 97.933, up 0.29%
Safe-haven flows boosted the dollar. Markets are repricing its defensive appeal, while potential energy-driven inflation also supports expectations that the Fed will maintain a restrictive policy stance. - EUR/USD: 1.18159, up 0.16%
The euro shows resilience at current levels, as markets weigh rising European energy costs against potential central bank responses. - USD/JPY: 156.004, down 0.06%
Reflects an intense tug-of-war between yield differentials and safe-haven demand.
3. Precious Metals and Commodities
Precious Metals
- Spot Gold (XAUUSD): USD 5,317.31/oz, up 0.74%
Geopolitical risk premiums fully offset the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar. - Spot Silver (XAGUSD): USD 92.992/oz, down 0.86%
Silver underperformed, highlighting its stronger industrial-metal characteristics and concerns over slowing global growth.
Commodities
- Crude Oil (XTIUSD): USD 71.19/barrel, up 5.62%
Supply disruption risks became the dominant pricing factor, driving an extreme single-day rally.
4. Digital Assets and Macro Developments
- Bitcoin (BTCUSD): USD 66,443, up 1.02%
Found buying support near USD 65,000, showing signs of moving in sync with gold as a digital safe-haven asset. - Ethereum (ETHUSD): USD 1,964.5, up 1.30%
Digital assets saw a modest rebound amid expectations of fiat liquidity volatility, though their risk-asset nature continues to cap upside momentum.
5. Today’ focus
- Eurozone: Speech by ECB President Christine Lagarde
- Canada: February Manufacturing PMI
- United States: February ISM Manufacturing PMI
- United States: February ISM Manufacturing Prices Index
