Middle East conflict triggers sharp rise in energy and commodity prices

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its first risk monitoring report of 2026 this week, warning that risks of market and systemic stress in European Union financial markets remain high despite resilient performance during the second half of 2025.

The report highlighted key risks and vulnerabilities across EU financial markets, noting that strong market performance in recent months has not eliminated underlying structural risks.

ESMA explained that...