Escalating hostilities in the Middle East, including Iran's strikes on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz and coordinated US-Israel strikes on Iran, have caused significant market volatility.Oil prices surged due to these conflicts, with Brent crude briefly topping $100 a barrel, while gold prices remained subdued despite initial surges following the strikes.To stabilize markets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the USA announced a coordinated release of oil reserves, though analysts warn that volatility may persist until de-escalation and the resumption of shipping traffic.Despite forecasts for gold remaining bullish long-term, factors like a stronger dollar and rising
U.S. Treasury yields are currently diverting investor interest away from the metal.