Logiq Contrarian Opportunities ETF LCO

Barclays said Friday that stocks have held up relatively well during the global bond selloff, but rising yields are making equities a less obvious choice. Bond volatility has reached its highest level since U.S.-Iran tensions in March, while equity volatility remains relatively contained. Strategist Emmanuel Cau noted that price-to-earnings ratios have fallen over the summer, but bonds have also become cheaper, leaving the equity risk premium near multi-decade lows. As a result, the “TINA” argument for holding stocks has become less compelling. Barclays said higher rates do not necessarily hurt equities, as much of the increase reflects stronger growth and expectations that AI will boost the economy. However, Brent crude remains above $100 a barrel and major central banks are raising rates again. The bank expects markets to remain tense at least through the Q3 earnings season, with hopes for U.S.-Iran de-escalation continuing to support equities but remaining elusive. $LCO $BCS

$CL_F $CVX $LCO $SHEL Iran fires missiles at Israel, escalating regional tensions

$CVX $SHEL $LCO Brent near $100 with escalation risk pointing to further gains and tighter supply conditions. $CL_F

The Russell 2000 has dropped more than 10% from its recent high, making it the first major U.S. benchmark to enter correction territory in 2026. A correction is defined as a decline of between 10% and 20% from a recent peak. Small-cap stocks had started the year strong, with the Russell 2000 up around 1% in 2026, boosted by hopes for easier monetary policy and a pivot away from large-cap equities. However, the index has fallen over 6% this month amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has driven Brent crude prices up more than 50%. Small caps are particularly sensitive to oil price swings and economic cycle slowdowns due to their heavier exposure to cyclical sectors. Other major U.S. benchmarks are approaching correction territory as well: the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite are more than 9% off their all-time highs, while the S&P 500 has declined over 6%. $RUT $SPX $LCO