Markets head into the evening, balancing stronger earnings momentum with rising geopolitical risk.
Iran has warned it could strike US bases across the Middle East if Washington escalates, prompting precautionary personnel moves at key installations.
In Europe, France’s fragile government faces twin no-confidence votes that could shape the political roadmap into the 2026 budget fight.
On Wall Street, big banks opened earnings season with higher profits, as borrowing remained resilient. Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged above $95,000, drawing the spotlight closer to the $100,000 threshold.
Iran threatens US bases
Iran has warned it will hit US bases across the Middle East if Trump launches strikes, prompting Washington to pull some personnel from key installations.
US staff at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, home to around 10,000 troops, were advised to leave by Wednesday evening, with officials calling it a precautionary posture change rather than a full evacuation.
The move follows Tehran’s warning to neighbors hosting American forces, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey, that their bases would be targeted.
Tensions have spiked as Trump threatens “very strong action” over Iran’s crackdown on protesters, with the death toll reportedly exceeding 2,500.
France faces no-confidence votes
France’s government faces two no-confidence votes on Wednesday as opposition lawmakers challenge Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s fragile minority administration.
The motions, triggered by the use of Article 49.3 of the constitution to push through budget measures without a vote, could topple the government if either secures an absolute majority.
While analysts expect Bayrou to survive, the votes highlight his weak parliamentary position and set the stage for tougher battles over the 2026 budget.
With the far-right National Rally and left-wing NFP both backing separate motions, the government’s survival depends on whether enough conservatives break ranks.
US banks post bigger profits
Big US banks kicked off earnings season with fatter profits as loan demand picked up and credit conditions remained manageable.
Consumers and businesses are borrowing more for everything from credit cards to commercial projects, helping drive interest income even as rate-cut expectations build.
Trading and investment banking were mixed, but fee income held up better than feared.
While lenders are still setting aside money for potential loan losses, executives said they are not seeing a sharp deterioration in asset quality yet.
The results suggest the economy is cooling, not crashing, giving banks room to benefit from a still-resilient borrower base.
Bitcoin breaks $95,000, eyes $100K
Bitcoin’s clean break above the $95,000 mark has flipped a stubborn resistance zone into a launchpad for the next leg higher.
A softer US inflation print, rising Fed rate-cut bets, and renewed geopolitical jitters have all combined to turbocharge its appeal as a macro hedge.
Fresh spot ETF inflows, heavy block buying, and a wave of short liquidations have amplified the move, with price briefly tagging the mid‑96,000s.
Traders are now eyeing the $95,000–$97,000 band as the key battleground: hold this area as support, and the path toward that psychologically charged 100,000 dollar milestone opens up fast.
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