Overview
- Brent hovered around $71–$72 a barrel and WTI near $66 as traders priced a higher geopolitical risk premium tied to a reported U.S. military buildup that includes the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- Gold climbed near or above $5,000 an ounce as investors sought shelter, while the dollar strengthened toward its best weekly gain in four months.
- Global equities eased, with European benchmarks lower, U.S. futures softer and Wall Street closing down on Thursday; Asia pointed weaker into Friday’s open.
- President Donald Trump said Iran has roughly 10 days to reach a “meaningful deal,” with media and intelligence reports describing increased U.S. assets in the region, though no strike decision has been announced.
- Regional moves diverged as India’s Sensex fell about 1.5% on crude and rate concerns, while Pakistan’s KSE‑100 jumped 3.29% after a January current‑account surplus and stronger remittance inflows.