Markets opened the week in risk-off mode after Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil sharply higher and driving safe-haven demand into the U.S. dollar. Asia and Europe sold off heavily. U.S. equities pared losses but remain sensitive to headlines. Oil strength = inflation concerns = pressure on risk assets. This is a headline-driven environment. Expect volatility and potential whiplash. Automation has now been switched back ON. Conditions have stabilised enough for systems to resume, but we remain alert and will adjust if volatility expands again. Stay disciplined! - Ross

President Donald Trump is currently speaking about the war situation, and markets are reacting in real time. We started the week and the new month in clear risk-off mode as well as an inevitable spike in oil prices where WTI ran to a high near $73.50 in the London market open, (since falling back below $71.00 in New York trade). Gold briefly pushed above $5,418, equities sold off, and the US Dollar caught strong safe-haven demand. That’s typical positioning when uncertainty spikes. However, early in the U.S. session, risk buyers stepped in and we saw a sharp recovery in stocks. Sentiment stabilized quickly, but not because the situation improved but more because traders began repricing and short-term positioning adjusted. The US Dollar remains in high demand, and that strength has pressured Gold. After being capped at the London highs, Gold has rotated lower and is now trading between the Asia session lows and Friday’s highs. The $5,300 area is shaping up as a short-term support base while the market digests Trump’s comments, including the statement that this may have been the “last best chance to strike Iran.” What matters for us is this: volatility right now is headline-driven. Safe-haven flows are active, the Dollar is strong, and Gold is compressing after an initial spike. This is not a clean, purely technical environment but it’s reactive and news-sensitive. If you’re running automation or building strategies, be aware that conditions can shift quickly around political developments. This is exactly why we track macro context alongside structured systems. Further headlines of Trumps' comments: Trump on Iran war timeline: Whatever it takes. Trump: Projected 4-5 weeks and the capability to go far longer. Trump on Iran: objectives are clear, including destroying missile capacity - Ross

Hi traders! Due to the sudden escalation with military strikes in the Iran–U.S./Israel conflict, markets will be behaving unpredictably. To protect capital and avoid execution in highly erratic conditions, we’re turning off automation for the open on Monday. We’ll monitor how the situation settles and keep you updated. Thanks for your understanding, safety first. — Ross