Daily risk briefing ·
Market crash risk on 18 May 2026: 64.2% (Nearly Crash)
vs previous day change −1.0 pts vs previous day vs 1 week earlier change −1.6 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 65.1% (Nearly Crash), the Overall Gauge hit 64.2% (Nearly Crash), and the Geopolitical Layer is 61.7% (Severe).
Main drivers are Trump’s warning to Iran and Israeli interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Rising oil prices and bond yields diverge from the Nearly Crash signal, suggesting inflation fears dominate.
Geopolitical drivers
- Trump warns Iran over stalled peace talks; oil prices and bond yields rise85Directly impacts energy supply/prices and risk sentiment, as Iran tensions threaten Hormuz transit.
- US calls on G7 to impose US-led sanctions on Iran80Direct sanctions/trade disruption threat to Iranian oil exports, impacting global energy supply.
- Russian drone hits Chinese ship off Ukraine before Putin-Xi visit76Great-power escalation risk involving Russia and China, threatening trade disruption and risk sentiment.
Biggest 5-day market moves
- Bitcoin/USD −4640.84
- Gold Spot Price −160.70
- S&P 500 Index +9.57
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-02 | 36.8 | 31.4 | 67.2 | Cautious |
| 2026-06-01 | 36.3 | 30.3 | 69.8 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-29 | 34.9 | 30.1 | 62.4 | Safe |
| 2026-05-28 | 35.7 | 30.9 | 62.7 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-27 | 36.0 | 31.4 | 61.9 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-26 | 42.9 | 34.0 | 93.5 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-25 | 38.5 | 34.1 | 63.4 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-22 | 42.1 | 37.8 | 66.6 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-21 | 43.1 | 39.3 | 64.4 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-20 | 48.0 | 44.8 | 66.0 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-19 | 46.8 | 42.8 | 69.0 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-18 | 47.1 | 42.8 | 71.9 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-15 | 37.3 | 32.0 | 67.2 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-14 | 40.6 | 35.7 | 68.5 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-13 | 41.0 | 35.9 | 70.3 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-12 | 37.2 | 31.8 | 67.5 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-11 | 35.2 | 29.0 | 70.1 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-08 | 38.9 | 33.1 | 71.8 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-07 | 35.6 | 28.9 | 73.7 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-06 | 35.5 | 29.2 | 71.5 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-05 | 39.9 | 33.9 | 74.0 | Cautious |
| 2026-05-04 | 34.3 | 27.1 | 75.5 | Safe |
Not financial advice. Use the gauge as a risk thermometer, not a timing oracle.