Global markets moved sharply higher after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects the Iran war to end within two to three weeks and promised an “important update” in a national address scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern. The announcement triggered strong gains across equities and commodities, with Asian stocks rising 4% and S&P 500 futures jumping notably.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index recorded its strongest session since the conflict began, while Asian technology shares climbed 6.5%, led by major chipmakers posting gains above 9%. Oil markets also reacted, with Brent crude rebounding above $105 after reports that the United Arab Emirates may assist the U.S. and allies in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, potentially becoming the first Gulf state to enter the conflict directly.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that Iran has the willingness to end the war but expects guarantees against future aggression.
Bitcoin and Crypto Markets Show Moderate Gains
Bitcoin traded near $68,150, rising about 0.3% over 24 hours, while other cryptocurrencies posted modest increases. Ether gained 1.6% to $2,100, XRP rose 0.5% to $1.34.
Despite the rally in traditional markets, Bitcoin has remained relatively stable, trading within a $65,000 to $73,000 range throughout the conflict. This reduced volatility compared with equities highlights a divergence between digital assets and traditional financial markets.
New Bitcoin ETF and Market Catalysts Point to Stronger Second Quarter
Beyond geopolitical optimism, new financial developments could provide additional momentum. Morgan Stanley recently received approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) charging 14 basis points, significantly below the category average. The product opens potential exposure to the firm’s 16,000 financial advisors, who collectively manage about $6.2 trillion in client assets.
Gold also continued to move higher, approaching $4,700, although the metal recorded a nearly 12% decline in March, its steepest monthly drop since October 2008, highlighting shifting investor sentiment during the ongoing conflict.
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