$CRCL (-1,09%)
$KSPI (+0,44%)
$MNDY (+0,26%)
$CEG (+0,1%)
$ABX (+0,61%)
$HIMS (-0,55%)
$RGTI (-1,71%)
$BAYN (-0,15%)
$NCH2 (-0,29%)
$IOS (+0,27%)
$MUV2 (-0,19%)
$BNP (+0,06%)
$ENR (-0,66%)
$TKA (-0,13%)
$SE (-0,89%)
$ONON (+0,43%)
$QBTS (-1,71%)
$UA (+0,38%)
$OKLO
$SIE (-0,21%)
$ALV (-0,03%)
$BABA (-4,26%)
$S92 (-0,66%)
$DTE (+0,24%)
$700 (-3,52%)
$NBIS (-3,82%)
$CSCO (-0,73%)
$ONDS (-0,94%)
$KLAR (-1,05%)
$FIG (-1,18%)
$NU (-0,44%)

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 (-0,51%) 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 (-0,38%)
• Barclays - $BARC (+0,65%)
• Standard Chartered - $STAN (-0,02%)
• Deutsche Bank - $DBK (-0,02%)
• BNP Paribas - $BNP (+0,06%)
• BBVA - $BBVA (-0,12%)
• Commerzbank - $CBK (-0,41%)

In the USA also weaker until the US opening:

• Bank of America - $BAC (+0,03%)
• Citigroup - $C (+0,23%)

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 (+0,33%) (-11 %)
• Lufthansa - $LHA (+0,67%) (-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 (+0,16%)
• Swatch - $UHR (-0,42%)
• LVMH - $MC (+0,31%)
• Hermès - $RMS (+0,13%)
• Kering - $KER (-0,19%)
• Brunello Cucinelli - $BC (-0,1%)
• Moncler - $MONC (-0,17%)
• Ferragamo - $SFER (+0%)

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. (-0,08%)
• Lockheed Martin - $LMT (+0,37%)
• RTX - $RTX (-0,01%)
• Kratos - $KTOS (-1,13%)
• Hensoldt - $HAG (-0,25%)
• Leonardo - $LDO (-0,21%)
• Renk - $R3NK (-0,23%)
• Rheinmetall - $RHM (+0,09%)

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 (-0,14%)
• Hapag-Lloyd - $HLAG (-0,7%)
• Torm - $TRMD A (-0,29%)
• Frontline - $FRO (-1,82%)
• Hoegh Autoliners $HAUTO (+0%)

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 (+0,14%)
• Northern Star - $NST (+0,17%)

The sector has been showing relative strength for several days.

$4GLD (+0,63%)
$GOLD
$GOLD (+1,01%)

_________________________

📊 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 (+0,15%), Verizon $VZ (+0,25%), BNP Paribas $BNP (+0,06%)Zurich Insurance $ZURN (+0,08%), Enel $ENEL (-0,04%), Sanofi $SAN (-0,01%), Hannover Re $HNR1 (+0,28%) , Man and Machine $MUM (+0,2%), Generali $G (+0,21%) and Allianz $ALV (-0,03%)

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 (+0,2%) , Cancom $COK (+0%), Bastei Lübbe $BST (-0,44%), Sixt $SIX2 (-0,1%), Kontron $KTN (-0,18%), Fresenius Medical Care $FME (-0,01%), Vonovia $VNA (-0,07%), Hawesko $HAW (+0,3%), ElringKlinger $ZIL2 (+0%) and Hannover Re $HNR1 (+0,28%)

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 (+0,23%)
$MAIN (+0,28%)
$LHA (+0,67%)
$RIO (+0,18%)
$LUG (+0,49%)
$BNP (+0,06%)
$BP. (-0,76%)
$KO (+0,42%)
$SIKA (-0,05%)
$MO (+0,25%)

HSBC $HSBA (-0,38%) 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 (+0,06%) was the first European bank to establish a branch in Saudi Arabia, but does not have an investment banking license.

$KDP (-0,28%)
$7751 (+1,02%)
$NXPI (-1,03%)
$WM (+0,09%)
$CDNS (-0,44%)
$BN (-0,21%)
$SOFI (-0,06%)
$UNH (+0,03%)
$AMT (+0,03%)
$UPS (-0,05%)
$BNP (+0,06%)
$NVS (-0,73%)
$DB1 (+0,02%)
$MSCI (-0,03%)
$ENPH (-0,59%)
$BKNG (-1,06%)
$LOGN (-0,01%)
$V (+0,24%)
$MDLZ (+0,25%)
$PYPL (-0,48%)
$000660
$MBG (-0,47%)
$BAS (+0,09%)
$UBSG (+0,37%)
$SAN (-0,51%)
$CVS (+0,26%)
$OTLY (-0,4%)
$GSK (+0,09%)
$ETSY (-1,42%)
$CAT (-0,44%)
$KHC (+0,15%)
$ADYEN (+0,1%)
$ADS (+0,24%)
$AIR (-0,11%)
$SBUX (-0,3%)
$CMG (-0,48%)
$META (-0,38%)
$KLAC (-2,59%)
$MELI (-0,13%)
$WOLF (-2,03%)
$GOOGL (-0,48%)
$EQIX (-0,21%)
$MSFT (+0,11%)
$CVNA (+0,03%)
$EBAY (-0,67%)
$005930
$6752 (+0,37%)
$KOG (-0,17%)
$VOW3 (-0,29%)
$GLE (-0,39%)
$LHA (+0,67%)
$STLAM (-0,54%)
$SPGI (+0,23%)
$MA (+0,69%)
$PUM (-0,28%)
$AIXA (-1,58%)
$FSLR (-0,49%)
$AAPL (-0,01%)
$REDDIT (-0,04%)
$AMZN (-0,73%)
$NET (-1,7%)
$MSTR (-0,54%)
$GDDY (-1,07%)
$TWLO (-0,85%)
$COIN (-0,64%)
$066570
$CL (-0,35%)
$ABBV (+0,13%)
$XOM (-0,13%)

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 (+0,06%) and Credit Agricole $ACA (-0,1%) 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