Escalating Middle East tensions: Rising tensions in the Middle East remain the biggest factor weighing on market sentiment. The US-Iran conflict has intensified, with reports indicating that the United States carried out its third consecutive night of strikes on Iran. US President Donald Trump has also announced a fresh blockade targeting Iranian trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the conflict is widening across the region. Ending a four-year truce, Yemen’s Houthi rebels reportedly launched missiles at Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control on Monday.
