Daily Digest — 1 Apr 2026

Geopolitical tensions dominated markets today as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened major tech companies including Nvidia and Apple, while the Houthis claimed a coordinated missile attack on Israel alongside Iran and Hezbollah. President Trump escalated the situation by suggesting the US could “leave Iran in two to three weeks,” though his comments about potentially withdrawing from NATO as a “paper tiger” added uncertainty to global security arrangements.

Markets showed mixed reactions to the escalating Middle East conflict. Oil retreated 1.5% to \(99.88 despite the heightened tensions, suggesting traders may be positioning for a swift resolution based on Trump's timeline. Gold climbed 1.5% to \)4,751 as investors sought safe havens, while cryptocurrencies surged with Bitcoin gaining 3.3% to \(68,518 and Ethereum jumping 5.3% to \)2,132. The dollar strengthened against major currencies, with the euro rising to \(1.16 and sterling to \)1.33.

In the UK, Chancellor Reeves indicated energy bill support would be income-based but wouldn’t arrive until autumn, while a hospitality survey revealed two-thirds of businesses plan job cuts due to rising costs. Turkey’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 24-year absence provided a rare positive note for the region, while Oracle announced significant layoffs as it redirects resources toward AI infrastructure spending.

The combination of Middle East tensions, policy uncertainty, and corporate restructuring continues to create volatility across global markets, with investors closely watching developments in the Strait of Hormuz and Trump’s evolving foreign policy stance.