Escalation Is Key Fear for Markets After Strike, Analysts Say

The key question for markets following Israel’s strike on Iran is how much worse things will get, say strategists.

Israel has launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear program and military targets. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the move “preemptive,” while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes would last until the threat is removed. The tension weighed on markets: Oil surged, Asian stocks and global equity futures fell, and the dollar reversed earlier losses as traders sought familiar havens.