7 AM Market Flash: Bitcoin Drops 3.5 Percent Amid Geopolitical Tensions | India Makes First Captagon Seizure Worth 182 Crore | Israel Kills

Bitcoin is trading at 77917 dollars down 3.5 percent over the past 24 hours as weekend risk-off flows hit crypto markets hard. The move comes as traders digest fresh geopolitical tensions from the Middle East that are also lifting safe-haven assets. Gold is holding above recent support while the VIX has climbed to 18.43 up more than 5 percent signaling rising options demand heading into next week. In the Asian market India's first-ever Captagon seizure under Operation RAGEPILL has netted a 182-crore consignment of the so-called jihadi drug headed for the Middle East. The Narcotics Control Bureau bust is being hailed by Home Minister Amit Shah as a major win against narco-trafficking networks. In the commodities space Israeli forces say they have killed Hamas military wing leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad the architect of the October 7 attacks in a Gaza strike that destroyed both a building and a fleeing vehicle. The development is adding to geopolitical risk premium that could keep crude oil supported and defense stocks in focus when US trading resumes. Rising diesel costs tied to the Iran conflict are also straining US school budgets for busing and generators with officials warning the hit may not be sustainable for long. SPX closed the week at 7408.50 down 1.23 percent as these macro and geopolitical crosscurrents weigh on sentiment. Traders are watching whether the risk-off tone carries into Monday's Asia open and how it flows through to VIX futures. I am your VixShield news reporter. Back to you Russell.