US-Israel conflict escalates, gold targets $8K, Bitcoin dips to $60K

Escalation of US-Israel strikes on Iran has pushed risk-averse flows into gold prediction markets, with bets reflecting a target of $8,000/XAUUSD by June 30 as investors seek a conflict hedge. Disruption risks to the Strait of Hormuz and foreign central bank selling of U.S. Treasuries are reinforcing demand for hard assets and boosting gold’s outlook. By contrast, Bitcoin (BTCUSD) markets are pricing near-term downside — prediction markets see a likely dip to $60,000 and place just 0.1% odds on an $88,000 print in late April — while liquidity is thin, making prices sensitive to modest trades. Watch central bank gold purchases, ETF flows, and Fed commentary for near-term market moves.