As the conflict in the Middle East enters a third week, markets remain uneasy but resilient. Lessons absorbed during past geopolitical shocks have so far kept this a slow-burn test of positioning and risk tolerance, rather than a volatility event with a specific breaking point. This week, we speak with Lee Ferridge, Head of Macro Strategy for the Americas for State Street Markets as to whether this equilibrium can hold. He notes the most relevant variables of investor positioning and activity and their current messages, if markets are correctly pricing the policy response and why the US dollar has reasserted its safe-haven status.

As the conflict in the Middle East enters a third week, markets remain uneasy but resilient. Lessons absorbed during past geopolitical shocks have so far kept this a slow-burn test of positioning and risk tolerance, rather than a volatility event with a specific breaking point. This week, we speak with Lee Ferridge, Head of Macro Strategy for the Americas for State Street Markets as to whether this equilibrium can hold. He notes the most relevant variables of investor positioning and activity and their current messages, if markets are correctly pricing the policy response and why the US dollar has reasserted its safe-haven status.

Street Signals is a weekly podcast packed with insights about the latest developments in financial markets from State Street Markets. Leveraging new tools, proprietary data and deep expertise, the Markets research team delivers highly valued market analysis on a daily basis to the world’s leading institutional investors. Join Street Signals' host, Tim Graf, State Street’s Head of Macro Strategy for EMEA, as he discusses the most important matters moving markets with guests from State Street and industrywide. 

Street Signals is a weekly podcast packed with insights about the latest developments in financial markets from State Street Markets. Leveraging new tools, proprietary data and deep expertise, the Markets research team delivers highly valued market analysis on a daily basis to the world&rsquo;s leading institutional investors. Join Street Signals' host, Tim Graf, State Street&rsquo;s Head of Macro Strategy for EMEA, as he discusses the most important matters moving markets with guests from State Street and industrywide.&nbsp;

Street Signals

Street Signals is a weekly podcast packed with insights about the latest developments in financial markets from State Street Markets. Leveraging new tools, proprietary data, and deep expertise, the Markets research team delivers highly valued market analysis on a daily basis to the world’s leading institutional investors. Join Street Signals' host, Tim Graf, State Street’s Head of Macro Strategy for EMEA, as he discusses the most important matters moving markets with guests from State Street and industrywide.

Street Signals is a weekly podcast packed with insights about the latest developments in financial markets from State Street Markets. Leveraging new tools, proprietary data, and deep expertise, the Markets research team delivers highly valued market analysis on a daily basis to the world&rsquo;s leading institutional investors. Join Street Signals' host, Tim Graf, State Street&rsquo;s Head of Macro Strategy for EMEA, as he discusses the most important matters moving markets with guests from State Street and industrywide.

Iran Macro Risks: A Fragile Equilibrium

A wider Middle East war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, seen for years as extreme ‘what-if’ risks, are now realities. The ranges of macroeconomic and geopolitical outcomes are as vast as they are unknowable, but reasonable future scenarios are starting to take shape. This week, we speak to Elliot Hentov, Chief Macro Policy Strategist at State Street Investment Management, about the evolving conflict in Iran and the market implications for a prolonged disruption in one of the world’s key energy chokepoints.

A wider Middle East war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, seen for years as extreme ‘what-if’ risks, are now realities. The ranges of macroeconomic and geopolitical outcomes are as vast as they are unknowable, but reasonable future scenarios are starting to take shape. This week, we speak to Elliot Hentov, Chief Macro Policy Strategist at State Street Investment Management, about the evolving conflict in Iran and the market implications for a prolonged disruption in one of the world’s key energy chokepoints.

Strait Signals: Assessing the Iran War Risk Premium

While geopolitical uncertainty dominates headlines, this week’s episode digs deeper into themes driving markets before the weekend’s events — particularly the sharp rotation in equities in 2026 and the reassessment of crowded AI‑linked trades and their fundamental drivers. Cayla Seder, senior multi-asset strategist at State Street Markets, speaks to the shifting market perceptions around AI, the scale of hyperscaler investment, the growing role of debt financing in the tech sector and how technology's potential to transform the economic outlook is likely to play out.

While geopolitical uncertainty dominates headlines, this week&rsquo;s episode digs deeper into themes driving markets before the weekend&rsquo;s events &mdash; particularly the sharp rotation in equities in 2026 and the reassessment of crowded AI‑linked trades and their fundamental drivers. Cayla Seder, senior multi-asset strategist at State Street Markets, speaks to the shifting market perceptions around AI, the scale of hyperscaler investment, the growing role of debt financing in the tech sector and how technology's potential to transform the economic outlook is likely to play out.

The Great Rotation: Stocks Under the Surface

Market volatility continues to climb in February, with a landmark Supreme Court ruling on US tariffs last week upending US trade policy in an afternoon. Questions now circle as to whether last years trade-induced USD weakness that was expected to continue into 2026 is now at risk of reversal. Meanwhile, the yen's tumble under Takaichi-nomics has resumed, equities and gold remain choppy and many long-dormant correlation relationships are starting to reassert themselves. Managing risk remains a constant challenge, as Dan Mazza, head of FX Forwards trading in the Americas at State Street Markets, highlights in this week's episode.

Market volatility continues to climb in February, with a landmark Supreme Court ruling on US tariffs last week upending US trade policy in an afternoon. Questions now circle as to whether last years trade-induced USD weakness that was expected to continue into 2026 is now at risk of reversal. Meanwhile, the yen's tumble under Takaichi-nomics has resumed, equities and gold remain choppy and many long-dormant correlation relationships are starting to reassert themselves. Managing risk remains a constant challenge, as&nbsp;Dan Mazza, head of FX Forwards trading in the Americas at State Street Markets, highlights in this week's episode.

Iran Macro Risks: A Fragile Equilibrium

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