Barclays Predicts Contained Volatility Before Iran Ceasefire

Barclays analysts expect limited market volatility ahead of the Iran cease‑fire deadline on April 7, 8 p.m. EST.
They note S&P 500 implied volatility has fallen week‑over‑week, with the 8‑Apr forward curve remaining the firmest.
Barclays recommends straddle positions on the Nasdaq‑100 (QQQ) for April 8 and April 10 expirations to capture potential surprises and upcoming inflation data.
Traditional hedges like Treasuries, gold and the yen have failed to protect against recent S&P declines, echoing 2022 patterns.