Markets opened the week with a cautious tone as the war in the Middle East kept the Strait of Hormuz in focus, lifting oil back above $105, keeping gold near record territory, weighing on U.S. stocks, and pushing investors toward energy, cash, and selective crypto exposure rather than broad risk.
Crypto
Crypto held up fairly well during the turmoil, with total market capitalization standing at $2.5 trillion, the Fear & Greed Index at 39, the Altcoin Season Index at 48/100, and Average Crypto RSI at 60.32, according to CoinMarketCap data, showing that momentum remained firm without looking stretched.
Bitcoin trades at $73,200, up 0.51% on the day, while Ethereum shows stronger momentum at $2,249.63, BNB rises 0.36% to $676.19, and Solana adds 0.76% to $93.00.
Bitcoin ETF demand stayed positive over the past three sessions, recording net inflows of $115.20 million on March 11, $53.80 million on March 12, and $180.40 million on March 13, with BlackRock’s IBIT pulling in about $115.30 million, $46.10 million, and $143.60 million over the same period.
Commodities
In commodities, oil remains elevated due to geopolitical risks, with U.S crude trading at $99.36, while Brent stands at $105.293, up 1.04%, as investors focus on disruption around Kharg Island and the lack of clarity over whether shipping through Hormuz can be secured quickly.
Gold is softer on the day, down 0.61% at $4,987.260, while silver stands at $78.9054, though both metals remain close to record territory as investors balance a modest pullback against continued safe-haven demand and worries that higher oil prices could add to inflation pressure.
Stock Market Indices
In the U.S, the S&P 500 is down 0.61% at 6,632.20, the Dow Jones trades lower at 46,558.47, and the Nasdaq is at 22,105.36, pointing to lighter positioning in growth and a preference for defensive sectors.
In Asia, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.56% to 53,230, while in Europe the FTSE 100 gained 0.31% to 10,269.3, helped by strength in energy and defense names.
Geopolitics & Market Movers
On the diplomatic front, markets are still focused on the risk of further escalation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington presses allies to help secure the route but receives little positive response, leaving traders unsure about how quickly flows can normalize.
On the economic front, attention is turning to central banks, as oil above $100 complicates the inflation outlook, fades rate-cut hopes, and pushes investors to watch whether the Fed signals that policy will stay tighter for longer.
