U.S. military officials are considering deploying a brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division’s Immediate Response Force, about 3,000 troops, to support potential operations in Iran, though no orders have been issued. Options include seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, possibly alongside 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Officials described the moves as contingency planning, with airborne forces offering rapid deployment but limited heavy equipment, while Marines

US SEN. WARREN QUESTIONS PENTAGON ABOUT ANTHROPIC BLACKLIST: CNBC

Gold slid more than 5% on Monday, ‌reaching its weakest level of 2026 after logging its worst week in about 43 years, as an escalating Middle East conflict stoked inflation concerns and raised expectations of higher global interest rates. Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade • Gold’s appeal is weakening due to higher expected global interest rates amid the ongoing Iranian conflict. • High liquidity in gold is hurting it during this risk-off period. • Stock market downturns are forcing gold positions to be closed to cover margin calls on other assets. BMI, Unit of Fitch Solutions • The shift from safe-haven allocation to macro-driven positioning may push gold prices further down. • A stronger U.S. dollar and reduced probability of Fed easing dominate market sentiment. Hardika Singh, Economic Strategist, Fundstrat • Higher bond yields, driven by expectations that Fed rates will remain steady, increase the opportunity cost of holding gold. • Higher yields have played a significant role in the recent decline of gold prices. ING Strategists • Upward momentum in gold has faded. • Some investors are selling gold to raise cash or rebalance portfolios. Ed Yardeni, Wall Street Veteran • Optimistic long-term view: gold could reach $6,000 by year-end. • However, the year-end target may be lowered to $5,000 if gold fails to rise amid geopolitical tensions, rising inflation, and mounting U.S. government debt. Wayne Gordon, Investment Adviser, UBS Wealth-Management Unit • The magnitude of gold’s selloff is not unprecedented, but the pace is unusually fast compared to historical occasions. David Wilson, Director of Commodities Strategy, BNP Paribas SA • Gold’s reaction follows historical precedent from prior economic shocks (2008, 2020, 2022). • Initially, gold falls as investors sell assets to hold U.S. dollars, but all previous periods were followed by a sustained rally. Greg Shearer, Head of Base and Precious Metals Strategy, JPMorgan • Current gold decline reflects a “contagion risk” from a broad sell-everything environment. • Concerns exist that combined economic, energy, and FX pressures could change central bank gold flows and buying behavior. • Longer term, JPMorgan remains bullish: prolonged energy disruptions and rising inflation and growth impacts could quickly create a materially bullish backdrop for gold.