The military escalation between the USA, Israel and Iran is causing strong market movements worldwide. Investors are shifting out of cyclical sectors and into security, energy and defense.

_________________________

Bitcoin $BTC (-1,46 %) shows surprising stability

• 📈 In the meantime +8,1 %
• 💰 Just over 70,000 dollars
• Stabilization at around 69,000 dollars

Despite geopolitical risks, Bitcoin is apparently being used as a liquidity parking lot in the short term. At the same time, volatility remains high - further escalations could trigger new spikes.

_________________________

🛢 Oil prices up significantly

• Brent: + just under 6 %
• WTI: + a good 5 %
• In the meantime even +13 %

According to the report, the USA is currently no release from the strategic oil reserve. The market is still considered to be supplied, but the situation remains tense.

_________________________

🏦 Banks under pressure

The European banking index loses around 3,5 % - sharpest decline since April 2025.

Particularly affected:

• HSBC - $HSBA (-0,92 %)
• Barclays - $BARC (-0,35 %)
• Standard Chartered - $STAN (-1,25 %)
• Deutsche Bank - $DBK (-1,24 %)
• BNP Paribas - $BNP (-2,18 %)
• BBVA - $BBVA (-0,75 %)
• Commerzbank - $CBK (-1,28 %)

In the USA also weaker until the US opening:

• Bank of America - $BAC (-0,81 %)
• Citigroup - $C (-0,96 %)

Reason: Strong Middle East business of many institutions and general risk aversion of investors.

_________________________

✈️ Travel industry collapses

High oil prices and uncertainty weigh heavily on tourism stocks:

• TUI - $TUI1 (-2,68 %) (-11 %)
• Lufthansa - $LHA (-2,31 %) (-11 %)

Flights to the region are canceled, travel offers suspended. Investors fear rising costs and falling booking figures.

_________________________

💎 Luxury stocks clearly in the red

The European luxury index loses almost 4 %.

Strongly affected:

• Richemont - $CFR (-1,51 %)
• Swatch - $UHR (-1,51 %)
• LVMH - $MC (-1,92 %)
• Hermès - $RMS (-1,69 %)
• Kering - $KER (-1,64 %)
• Brunello Cucinelli - $BC (-1,53 %)
• Moncler - $MONC (-1,33 %)
• Ferragamo - $SFER (-1,39 %)

Background:

Luxury is heavily dependent on global travel. Capital flows out of cyclical stocks.

_________________________

🛡 Defense stocks as clear winners

Geopolitical tensions drive up defense stocks:

• BAE Systems - $BA. (+0,56 %)
• Lockheed Martin - $LMT (+1,08 %)
• RTX - $RTX (+0,44 %)
• Kratos - $KTOS (-0,82 %)
• Hensoldt - $HAG (-1,62 %)
• Leonardo - $LDO (-0,91 %)
• Renk - $R3NK (-1,57 %)
• Rheinmetall - $RHM (-1,97 %)

Partial price increases of 3-6 %.

The focus is particularly on missile defense systems and possible increases in defense budgets.

_________________________

🚢 Shipping companies benefit

Transport values increase due to detour (avoidance of Hormuz, Suez Canal & Bab al-Mandab):

• Maersk - $MAERSK A (-0,76 %)
• Hapag-Lloyd - $HLAG (-0,86 %)
• Torm - $TRMD A (+0,15 %)
• Frontline - $FRO (+3,34 %)
• Hoegh Autoliners $HAUTO (-0,79 %)

Reason: Shortage of transport capacity and speculation on rising freight rates.

_________________________

🥇 Gold in demand

• Gold price: +2,5 %

Profiteers in mining stocks:

• Evolution Mining - $EVN (-4,29 %)
• Northern Star - $NST (-2,13 %)

The sector has been showing relative strength for several days.

$4GLD (+0,36 %)
$GOLD
$GOLD (+1,51 %)

_________________________

📊 Market logic clearly recognizable

Winner:

🛡 Armaments

🚢 Shipping companies

🥇 Gold

₿ Bitcoin (short-term)

Losers:

🏦 Banks

✈️ Travel

💎 Luxury

_________________________

🔎 Conclusion

The market reaction follows the classic pattern of geopolitical crises:

• Risk is reduced
• Capital seeks security
• Energy prices rise
• Defense stocks benefit

The decisive factor remains whether the situation eases diplomatically - or escalates further.

_________________________

Source:

Reuters: Anleger greifen bei Bitcoin als "Fluchtvehikel" zu (Via TradingView)

The DZ Bank analysts have drawn up two lists of shares that they consider to be particularly attractive. For more defensive investors and for investors who rely on continuous cash flows, they recommend the so-called "dividend aristocrats": In other words, companies that have regularly paid and raised dividends.

Top dividend aristocrats:

Pfizer $PFE (-0,21 %), Verizon $VZ (-0,07 %), BNP Paribas $BNP (-2,18 %)Zurich Insurance $ZURN (-1,51 %), Enel $ENEL (-0,69 %), Sanofi $SAN (-1,14 %), Hannover Re $HNR1 (-0,75 %) , Man and Machine $MUM (-0,38 %), Generali $G (-0,26 %) and Allianz $ALV (-1,11 %)

Another list has been compiled for investors with a somewhat higher risk appetite: Stocks with attractive dividend yields and additional share price potential. These not only pay a good dividend of at least three percent, but could also increase significantly in price in the future. However, the continuity of dividends in the past plays a lesser role - and this strategy is correspondingly riskier.

Top dividend rockets:

Man and machine $MUM (-0,38 %) , Cancom $COK (-0,54 %), Bastei Lübbe $BST (-0,29 %), Sixt $SIX2 (-0,39 %), Kontron $KTN (-0,57 %), Fresenius Medical Care $FME (-1,11 %), Vonovia $VNA (-1,91 %), Hawesko $HAW (+0,25 %), ElringKlinger $ZIL2 (+0,17 %) and Hannover Re $HNR1 (-0,75 %)

Source text (excerpt) & graphic: World | AAA, 19.02.2026

The online custody account transfer to 212 is in progress and will be available soon. Of course, transferring from 212 already works now.

212 is also tax-simple and everything has worked quite well so far. I treated myself to a €100 exemption there at the beginning of the year, which didn't really make sense as I actually filled it up quickly at Volksbank. But I wanted to see if the calculations and deductions worked so far.

And for the dividend fans among you, the dividends arrive on time on payday in 99% of cases.

Of course I would be grateful if you are interested in switching, please use my link and get free shares up to 100€

https://www.trading212.com/invite/1Bl7fzXX7K

Finally, my current best pie I would not have expected 5 months ago that it outperforms my other pie's 😉

$O (-0,55 %)
$MAIN (-0,82 %)
$LHA (-2,31 %)
$RIO (-1,83 %)
$LUG (+0,38 %)
$BNP (-2,18 %)
$BP. (+1,75 %)
$KO (-0,07 %)
$SIKA (-1,5 %)
$MO (-0,24 %)

HSBC $HSBA (-0,92 %) is the first foreign bank to receive a full investment banking license for Saudi Arabia.

The license entitles HSBC and its subsidiary, Saudi British Bank, to establish HSBC Saudi Arabia, which will offer wealth management and investment banking services.

HSBC said in a statement that it will offer corporate finance and wealth management advisory services to institutional clients, investment advisory and stock broking services to retail investors.

Credit Suisse was granted a limited brokerage license in a joint venture with Saudi investors.

Last month, HSBC acquired a 70 percent stake in Iraq's Dar es Salaam Investment Bank and plans to enter the country's fledgling financial sector.

At the same time, it became the second international bank to establish a branch in Kuwait.

The French BNP Paribas $BNP (-2,18 %) was the first European bank to establish a branch in Saudi Arabia, but does not have an investment banking license.

$KDP (-0,79 %)
$7751 (-3,73 %)
$NXPI (-1,43 %)
$WM (-0,29 %)
$CDNS (-0,62 %)
$BN (-0,93 %)
$SOFI (-2,41 %)
$UNH (-0,85 %)
$AMT (-0,76 %)
$UPS (-0,28 %)
$BNP (-2,18 %)
$NVS (-1,23 %)
$DB1 (+1,7 %)
$MSCI (-0,73 %)
$ENPH (-1,32 %)
$BKNG (-0,99 %)
$LOGN (-1,62 %)
$V (-0,54 %)
$MDLZ (-0,49 %)
$PYPL (-0,82 %)
$000660
$MBG (-1,5 %)
$BAS (-1,87 %)
$UBSG (-0,93 %)
$SAN (-3,03 %)
$CVS (-0,6 %)
$OTLY (-1,5 %)
$GSK (-0,28 %)
$ETSY (-1,06 %)
$CAT (-1,48 %)
$KHC (-0,16 %)
$ADYEN (-1,32 %)
$ADS (-1,73 %)
$AIR (-1,07 %)
$SBUX (-0,7 %)
$CMG (+0,08 %)
$META (-0,64 %)
$KLAC (-1,08 %)
$MELI (-0,44 %)
$WOLF (-3,29 %)
$GOOGL (-1,27 %)
$EQIX (-1,14 %)
$MSFT (-0,84 %)
$CVNA (-0,61 %)
$EBAY (-0,48 %)
$005930
$6752 (-6 %)
$KOG (-0,24 %)
$VOW3 (-1,6 %)
$GLE (-1,52 %)
$LHA (-2,31 %)
$STLAM (-1,7 %)
$SPGI (-0,25 %)
$MA (-0,88 %)
$PUM (-0,7 %)
$AIXA (-0,46 %)
$FSLR (-0,98 %)
$AAPL (-0,52 %)
$REDDIT (-2,42 %)
$AMZN (-1,12 %)
$NET (-0,33 %)
$MSTR (-2,03 %)
$GDDY (-0,33 %)
$TWLO (-0,44 %)
$COIN (-2,52 %)
$066570
$CL (-0,01 %)
$ABBV (-0,32 %)
$XOM (+1,96 %)

The US rating agency Fitch has rated France's creditworthiness as worse than ever before due to the political crisis and rising debt. Late on Friday evening, it lowered its credit rating for the eurozone's second-largest economy to A+ from AA-.

Fitch justified the move with the budget crisis. There is no clear plan for stabilizing the debt in the coming years.

The yields on French government bonds have already risen and are approaching those of Italy, which has a significantly lower credit rating.

The major French banks such as BNP Paribas $BNP (-2,18 %) and Credit Agricole $ACA (-1,52 %) are unlikely to be affected by the downgrade, as they are already rated A+ by Fitch.

Source text (excerpt): Handelsblatt, 09/13/25 | Image: Getty Images

Two major global banks - BNP Paribas $BNP (-2,18 %) and HSBC $HSBA (-0,92 %) - have joined the Canton Foundation, the development organization of the tokenization-focused Canton Network, underscoring the strong interest of institutional investors in real-world applications of blockchain technology.

The Foundation announced on Tuesday that BNP Paribas and HSBC are now also members, alongside recently joined members Goldman Sachs, Hong Kong FMI Services and Moody's Ratings. With more than 30 members, the Canton Foundation provides governance and strategic direction for the network while driving the development of use cases for blockchain-based financial services.

Canton Network is a blockchain designed for institutional financial services with a focus on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, regulatory compliance and interoperability.

Hubert de Lambilly, Head of Global Markets at BNP Paribas, said the move reflected the bank's commitment to adopting distributed ledger technology "to meet the evolving needs of our clients".

BNP's commitment builds on its previous support for Digital Asset, the company behind the Canton Network. The French bank participated in Digital Asset's $135 million funding round, which the company says is designed to accelerate institutional adoption and decentralized finance initiatives on Canton.

John O'Neil, head of digital assets and currencies at HSBC, said joining the foundation will help foster the maturation of the blockchain industry and support the creation of real liquidity in the digital asset markets.

HSBC has been actively involved in various blockchain initiatives. The company is reportedly preparing to apply for a Hong Kong stablecoin license under the city's new regulatory regime. According to previous statements, HSBC Hong Kong is also exploring blockchain applications in custody, tokenization and bond issuance.

》Institutional interest in tokenized RWAs is growing

Institutional demand for tokenized real assets is shaping the trajectory of cryptocurrencies through 2025, marking a significant departure from previous cycles dominated by private investor speculation in the 2017 and 2021 bull markets.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently highlighted this trend, pointing out that the industry is now benefiting from a unique mix of institutions, regulators and technology companies working together to "create trustworthy, interoperable frameworks".

According to the WEF, this collaboration, if successful, could lead to asset tokenization fulfilling its long-promised potential.

Regulation also plays a crucial role. In the United States, the passage of the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act and the House of Representatives' approval of legislation on market structure and against CBDCs has boosted the confidence of major financial institutions exploring the use of blockchain technology.

To date, efforts related to tokenization have focused on private credit markets and treasury bills. However, the scope is increasingly expanding as experiments are currently being conducted with equities, commodities and energy infrastructure.

As Cointelegraph recently reported, digital asset exchange Kraken has teamed up with the SEC's crypto taskforce to discuss tokenization, underscoring how the future of the sector is increasingly dependent on regulatory dialogue.

I am missing two dividend payments: $BNP (-2,18 %) and $UNI (-2,22 %)

Both should have been paid out yesterday, but have not yet been received by TR in my securities account. What is your situation?

Dear community, I'll provide a link as an example $OMV (+0,74 %)
$HAUTO (-0,79 %)
$BNP (-2,18 %)
$VOLV A (-1,47 %) because they pay good dividends and withholding tax is properly deducted.

If you want to save yourself the hassle of withholding tax refunds, couldn't you just sell the share the day before the ex-date and buy a new one the next day? As a rule, the share price falls by exactly the price of the dividend, sometimes even more. This way you indirectly get the dividend into your home, but you don't have to wait for the next calendar year or deal with the bureaucracy. Of course it's annoying because of the transaction fees, but depending on the volume and broker, these may also be limited. (Incidentally, you can also reduce taxable gains with a long investment horizon in this way, as you remain within the tax-free allowance and therefore do not realize the gains only after ten or twenty years).

I wonder whether this strategy has ever been seriously considered, discussed or even tried out by anyone.

In my case, I will probably try it out in two weeks with OMV, as I currently still hold the share with Revolut, but I am gradually "transferring" my European shares in particular to Trade Republic - not least because Revolut always pays so many fees into its own pocket for dividends and Revolut is also very annoying as a broker in other respects.

I'm curious to know whether you think this plan is completely crazy or somehow sensible. LG