ASX Set to Rise Amidst Middle East Drama

0:00And Sidney, it's March 10th. Here's what is happening. Australian shares are set to keep climbing after a rough week, even as Wall Street ended mostly flat overnight. ASX futures point to a 0.3% gain at 8,717 points, following Tuesday's 1.1% rise to 8,693. This comes amid mixed signals from the Trump administration on the Middle East conflict. Officials gave conflicting views on the war's timeline, with President Trump hinting it could wrap up very soon to ease market nerves, while his. Defense Secretary called today the most intense day of strikes on Iran. There's also confusion over U.S. Navy protection for oil tankers in the strait of Hormuz, an official claimed a successful escort. But the White House. Press Secretary denied it. Markets have largely shrugged off the drama so far. Brent crude oil plunged 8.5% to $90.57 per barrel after spiking earlier on supply fears.

1:00Gold rose 1% to $5,190.00, while the Australian dollar strengthened 0.6% too. 71.2 U.S. cents. Investors seem numb to bigger risks, like the energy crunch from disruptive shipping lanes, which some analysts call the worst in 50 years. Global stocks hid record highs, despite warnings of a potential storm from geopolitics and high valuations. For now, Europe bucked the trend with strong gains. The stock 600 up 1.9%, and ASX traders eye a positive open, keep watching as the day unfolds. Quick thanks to today's sponsor. See the description for more. Do not just listen to podcasts, get lost in them comfortably, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.