Daily risk briefing ·
Market crash risk on 21 March 2026: 66.5% (Nearly Crash)
vs previous day change −0.8 pts vs previous day vs 1 week earlier change −2.8 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 66.3% (Nearly Crash), the Overall Gauge hit 66.5% (Nearly Crash), and the Geopolitical Layer is 67.0% (Severe). Primary drivers include a potential US-Israel attack on the Natanz site and shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. These critical levels indicate extreme systemic fragility, suggesting that geopolitical escalation could imminently destabilize global financial markets.
Geopolitical drivers
- US-Israel Attack on Natanz Site92Direct military strikes on Iran's primary nuclear facility significantly elevate the risk of regional contagion. Transmission: energy supply/prices and great-power escalation.
- Strait of Hormuz Shipping Restrictions72Iran's selective transit permissions for Japanese vessels highlight its tactical control over the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Transmission: shipping lanes/chokepoints.
- Targeting of Diego Garcia Base75Reported targeting of the strategic US base at Diego Garcia threatens critical military logistics and Indian Ocean security. Transmission: great-power escalation and shipping lanes/chokepoints.
Biggest 5-day market moves
- Gold Spot Price −477.60
- Bitcoin/USD −366.00
- S&P 500 Index −125.71
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | 68.2 | 67.3 | 72.8 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-04-02 | 66.7 | 65.8 | 72.0 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-04-01 | 70.5 | 70.3 | 71.7 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-31 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 74.6 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-30 | 75.6 | 75.7 | 75.0 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-27 | 72.0 | 71.4 | 75.3 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-26 | 69.7 | 68.8 | 74.7 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-25 | 71.0 | 70.2 | 75.7 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-24 | 71.5 | 70.3 | 78.6 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-23 | 73.6 | 72.8 | 78.6 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-20 | 70.5 | 69.1 | 78.7 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-19 | 68.9 | 67.6 | 76.1 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-18 | 66.1 | 64.7 | 74.2 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-17 | 68.1 | 66.6 | 76.5 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-16 | 70.3 | 69.2 | 77.0 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-13 | 70.0 | 68.5 | 78.9 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-12 | 65.6 | 63.5 | 77.6 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-11 | 63.0 | 60.8 | 75.5 | Risky |
| 2026-03-10 | 64.6 | 63.0 | 73.8 | Risky |
| 2026-03-09 | 65.6 | 63.7 | 76.6 | Nearly Crash |
| 2026-03-06 | 61.0 | 58.5 | 75.2 | Risky |
Not financial advice. Use the gauge as a risk thermometer, not a timing oracle.