{"id":59998,"date":"2026-03-20T10:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T10:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:38:16","slug":"global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Shaken: Precious Metals Crater as US Bolsters Middle East Military Presence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Precious_Metals_and_Equities_Retreat\" >Precious Metals and Equities Retreat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Geopolitical_Tensions_Escalate_in_the_Middle_East\" >Geopolitical Tensions Escalate in the Middle East<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Yields_Hit_Multi-Year_Highs_Amid_Rate_Hike_Fears\" >Yields Hit Multi-Year Highs Amid Rate Hike Fears<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Legal_and_Diplomatic_Developments\" >Legal and Diplomatic Developments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-shaken-precious-metals-crater-as-us-bolsters-middle-east-military-presence\/59998\/#Notable_Passing\" >Notable Passing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Precious metals experienced a sharp sell-off, with Spot <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/silver-price.aspx\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"silver price today\">Silver<\/a> plunging over 5% to $68.97\/oz and Spot <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold-price.aspx\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">Gold<\/a> dropping 2% to $4,556.90\/oz.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The Pentagon is deploying thousands of additional Marines and three warships to the Middle East following claims by Iran that recent strikes failed to halt its weapons production.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>UK 10-year Gilt yields surged 16 basis points to reach 5%, marking the first time the benchmark has hit this level since 2008.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Market expectations for monetary tightening have shifted, with traders now pricing in a 50% chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike by October.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>President <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a> criticized NATO allies as &quot;cowards&quot; on Truth Social, claiming they refused to join the military effort against a &quot;Nuclear Powered Iran.&quot;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Precious_Metals_and_Equities_Retreat\"><\/span>Precious Metals and Equities Retreat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Safe-haven assets saw a massive liquidation on Friday as <strong>Spot Silver<\/strong> fell more than <strong>5%<\/strong> to trade at <strong>$68.97\/oz<\/strong>. <strong>Spot Gold<\/strong> followed suit, extending its decline to <strong>2%<\/strong> and settling at <strong>$4,556.90\/oz<\/strong> after initially breaking below the $4,582 level earlier in the session.<\/p>\n<p>The broader equity markets also faced downward pressure, with the <strong>Nasdaq 100 Index (<a href=\"\/stock\/NDX\">NDX<\/a>)<\/strong> extending its decline to <strong>1%<\/strong>. <em>Investors appear to be rotating out of growth stocks and commodities as yields rise and the U.S. Dollar strengthens against major peers.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Tensions_Escalate_in_the_Middle_East\"><\/span>Geopolitical Tensions Escalate in the Middle East<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Pentagon<\/strong> is sending thousands of additional <strong>Marines<\/strong> and <strong>three warships<\/strong> to the Middle East, according to reports from the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>. This move comes as <strong>Iran<\/strong> maintains that recent military strikes have failed to disrupt its weapons manufacturing capabilities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>President <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a><\/strong> intensified the rhetoric, labeling <strong>NATO<\/strong> members &quot;cowards&quot; for failing to join the U.S. in its military stance against Iran. Trump claimed that while the military conflict is &quot;won,&quot; allies are now complaining about the high oil prices resulting from the instability. Meanwhile, <strong>China<\/strong> has urged all parties to prevent more nations from being drawn into the conflict.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Yields_Hit_Multi-Year_Highs_Amid_Rate_Hike_Fears\"><\/span>Yields Hit Multi-Year Highs Amid Rate Hike Fears<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fixed income markets are reeling as the <strong>UK 10-year yield<\/strong> rose <strong>16bps<\/strong> to reach <strong>5%<\/strong>, a level not seen in eighteen years. This surge in yields is being mirrored by a shift in U.S. interest rate expectations, where futures are now pricing in a likely <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> rate hike for December.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>U.S. Dollar<\/strong> extended its gains against the <strong>Japanese Yen<\/strong>, rising <strong>0.91%<\/strong> to <strong>159.125 Yen<\/strong>. The <strong>Euro<\/strong> also struggled against the greenback, despite being up <strong>0.51%<\/strong> at <strong>$1.152950<\/strong>, as the <strong>ECB<\/strong> signaled it is currently at a &quot;neutral&quot; rate of roughly <strong>2%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_and_Diplomatic_Developments\"><\/span>Legal and Diplomatic Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In South America, the <strong>New York Times<\/strong> reports that at least two <strong>U.S. Federal Prosecutors&#39; offices<\/strong> are investigating Colombian President <strong>Gustavo Petro<\/strong> over alleged ties to drug traffickers. The probe is reportedly focused on whether drug money influenced political operations.<\/p>\n<p>In Eastern Europe, <strong>President Zelenskiy<\/strong> announced that <strong>Ukraine<\/strong> expects to receive its first financial tranche from the <strong>European Union<\/strong> in April. Zelenskiy also urged European leaders not to ease sanctions against <strong>Russia<\/strong> and <strong>Belarus<\/strong> as the conflict continues.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Notable_Passing\"><\/span>Notable Passing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In cultural news, action icon and &quot;Walker, Texas Ranger&quot; star <strong>Chuck Norris<\/strong> has passed away at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by <em>Variety<\/em>, marking the end of a career that spanned decades in martial arts and cinema.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Precious metals experienced a sharp sell-off, with Spot Silver plunging over 5% to $68.97\/oz and Spot Gold dropping [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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