Tensions in the Middle East escalate, stocks plunge and safe-haven assets soar

Jin10 reported on April 19 that reports of new conflicts in the Middle East shook global markets, causing stock markets to fall, while oil and safe-haven assets, including U.S. Treasury bonds and the dollar, rebounded. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell about 10 basis points, offsetting recent selling pressure. The dollar index rose while other safe-haven currencies including the Swiss franc, Japanese yen and gold also strengthened. Oil prices rose more than 3%, with Brent crude oil briefly exceeding $90 per barrel and WTI crude oil soaring to nearly $86 per barrel. U.S. stock index futures fell more than 1%, Asian stock markets also fell, Japanese and Korean stock markets fell more than 2%, and the Australian stock index fell more than 1%.