On Monday, European stock indexes experienced a decline, contrasting with a pullback in oil prices from recent gains, as markets approached the Israel-Hamas war situation with caution, fully aware of the potential financial repercussions it might bring.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, made a resolute vow to “demolish Hamas,” as Israeli forces prepared to enter the Gaza Strip to pursue Hamas militants responsible for a deadly rampage on October 7th, which claimed the lives of 1,300 people, marking the worst attack on civilians in Israel’s history.
Last week, oil prices had risen as investors factored in the possibility of an escalation in the world’s primary oil-producing region. Consequently, U.S. Treasuries and gold prices surged as traders sought refuge in safe-haven assets.
Traders are currently keeping a vigilant eye on the situation to see if it draws other nations into the conflict, a development that would further elevate oil prices and deliver a fresh blow to the global economy.
Iran, in particular, declared on Sunday that its armed forces would not engage militarily with Israel unless provoked by an attack on its interests or citizens.
At 0823 GMT, the MSCI World Equity Index had slipped by 0.2% on the day. European stock indexes were also in the red, with the STOXX 600 down by 0.2% and London’s FTSE 100 down by 0.1%.
Oil prices, after a notable surge last week, showed signs of easing.
Brent futures were down by 59 cents or 0.65%, settling at $90.3 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also fell by 0.7% or 59 cents, reaching $87.06 a barrel.
Fiona Cincotta, senior markets analyst at City Index, remarked, “What the market will be looking for in order for the mood to improve would be any sort of de-escalation… and on the downside, any sense that the oil-rich nations are going to be involved would be a catalyst to drive stocks lower.”
She also emphasized the significance of further comments from Iran in this context.
Senior U.S. officials warned of the potential for the war to escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been actively engaging with regional nations in an effort to contain the spread of the conflict.
Prior to the attack by Hamas, market sentiment had been influenced by the global economy and the belief that the U.S. Federal Reserve was planning to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period.
However, these narratives, along with upcoming company earnings reports, have been overshadowed by the prevailing geopolitical concerns.
Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields experienced a slight uptick to 4.6872% after a more than 8 basis point decline on Friday due to increased demand for the safety of bonds.
European government bond yields also rose, as European Central Bank officials expressed concerns about inflation.
The German 10-year yield was up by 4 basis points at 2.779%.
The U.S. dollar index saw a minor decline of 0.1% on the day, settling at 106.470. In contrast, the euro gained 0.2% against the dollar, reaching $1.0533.
The Israeli shekel hit a more than eight-year low, reflecting the uncertainty in the region. Gold, which had witnessed a $63 gain on Friday, retreated by 1% to $1,911.9 per ounce.
In summary, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict continues to dominate market sentiment, with oil and gold prices remaining sensitive to the evolving situation.
However, predicting potential flashpoints and scenarios remains a complex and challenging task, as highlighted by Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.