9:00 AM Flash: Markets Push Higher as VIX Ticks Up Amid Geopolitical Jitters

Nine AM Flash. Good morning everyone. Here’s your live market snapshot. The S&P five hundred is currently at seven thousand three hundred ninety five point five, up forty one point eight nine points or zero point five seven percent. The VIX is trading at seventeen point seven two, higher by zero point two eight or one point six one percent. Gold is at four thousand five hundred dollars, WTI oil sits at one hundred two point one dollars a barrel, and Bitcoin is currently at seventy six thousand eight hundred fifty dollars. Breaking this morning, thousands of Lithuanians, including the prime minister and president, have fled to bunkers after a suspected drone was detected near their airspace, prompting NATO jets to scramble. This latest Baltic flashpoint is injecting fresh caution across global markets and helping explain why we’re seeing a modest pickup in the VIX this morning. In other news, a twelve hundred year old Japanese temple that housed the country’s eternal flame has been destroyed by fire, a heartbreaking loss of cultural heritage. On a more personal note, King Charles was seen picking out a bag charm for Princess Charlotte during a warm visit to a jewellery shop in Northern Ireland, a touching grandfather moment that’s melting hearts worldwide. This is Miss Vicky from the Options Desk at VixShield, where it's not news till we talk about it. Stay with us as Russell Clark joins with more analysis.