Risk-On Sentiment Lifts Markets as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Build

Broad market optimism has persisted through the final sessions of the week as traders maintain a risk-on posture driven by evolving US-Iran geopolitical developments. US President Trump's remarks that the conflict will be over "very soon" have fueled positive sentiment, with market participants closely watching the 22 April ceasefire deadline as a potential catalyst. The optimistic tone has supported risk-sensitive currencies while weighing on traditional safe havens such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. European trading sessions have reflected this cautious but steady bullishness, with equities holding gains and the US dollar finding mixed performance across G10 pairs. The geopolitical backdrop remains the dominant driver, overshadowing economic data releases for the time being. Traders should remain alert to headline risk, as any deterioration in US-Iran negotiations ahead of next week's deadline could trigger a swift reversal in sentiment and a flight to safety. Near-term positioning is likely to stay headline-dependent rather than data-driven.