Daily risk briefing ·
Market crash risk on 21 February 2026: 54.7% (Risky)
vs previous day change +1.2 pts vs previous day vs 1 week earlier change +2.0 pts vs 1 week earlier
This briefing was published under methodology v1 (fixed thresholds, trend penalty, regime multiplier). Its numbers are kept as published and are not comparable with v2 readings. See the current methodology.
Summary
The Financial Composite Gauge registered 55.6% (Risky), the Overall Gauge hit 54.7% (Risky), and the Geopolitical Layer is 51.9% (Risky).
Key drivers include the 10% global import tariff implementation and the scheduled presidential visit to China.
These elevated risk levels suggest defensive positioning as trade policy shifts and diplomatic uncertainty weigh on market sentiment.
Geopolitical drivers
- US 10% Global Import Tariff Implementation88The administration's move to impose a 10% global tariff despite judicial pushback signals immediate trade disruption and increased costs for global supply chains.
- Russia-Ukraine War Day 1,45870Continued hostilities maintain high pressure on energy supply/prices and ensure the longevity of sanctions/trade disruption across Europe.
- Trump Scheduled China Visit55Upcoming high-level talks between the US and China serve as a catalyst for great-power escalation or potential de-escalation of trade disruption.
Biggest 5-day market moves
- Bitcoin/USD −634.28
- S&P 500 Index +73.34
- Gold Spot Price +37.30
Chart values use methodology v2 (point-in-time backfill), so they differ from the v1 numbers published above.
Show data table
| Date | Total | Financial | Geopolitical | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | 61.0 | 58.5 | 75.2 | Risky |
| 2026-03-05 | 57.7 | 54.5 | 75.8 | Risky |
| 2026-03-04 | 62.5 | 60.3 | 75.0 | Risky |
| 2026-03-03 | 58.1 | 56.1 | 69.2 | Risky |
| 2026-03-02 | 56.4 | 54.5 | 66.5 | Risky |
| 2026-02-27 | 51.2 | 50.1 | 57.7 | Risky |
| 2026-02-26 | 47.1 | 45.6 | 55.8 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-25 | 50.8 | 50.4 | 52.7 | Risky |
| 2026-02-24 | 53.2 | 53.1 | 53.7 | Risky |
| 2026-02-23 | 47.5 | 46.6 | 52.3 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-20 | 48.0 | 49.1 | 41.6 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-19 | 46.1 | 46.9 | 41.9 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-18 | 48.8 | 49.5 | 44.9 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-17 | 49.5 | 49.4 | 50.1 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-16 | 49.5 | 49.3 | 50.9 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-13 | 50.0 | 48.5 | 58.9 | Risky |
| 2026-02-12 | 42.1 | 39.2 | 58.8 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-11 | 42.6 | 39.2 | 61.6 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-10 | 39.6 | 36.0 | 60.3 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-09 | 46.6 | 44.2 | 60.5 | Cautious |
| 2026-02-06 | 52.0 | 50.6 | 59.5 | Risky |
Not financial advice. Use the gauge as a risk thermometer, not a timing oracle.