Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The shooting incident occurred at a rally for former Trump, which investors believe could increase his chances of reclaiming the White House.
Trump sustained a gunshot wound to the ear while the attacked was reportedly neutralized. Despite the severity of the event, he was seen raising his fist shortly after the attack.
His campaign has confirmed that he is in stable condition following the assassination attempt.
In response to the shooting incident, investors anticipate a rise in market activities betting on Trump's victory in the upcoming week.
"From memory, Reagan went up 22 points in the polls after his assassination attempt. The election is likely to be a landslide. This probably reduces uncertainty," Nick Ferres, Chief Investment Officer at Vantage Point Asset Management, told Reuters.
Prior to the attack, the possibility of Trump's return to office had already led to a stronger dollar and investors positioning for a steeper yield curve in U.S. Treasuries. These market movements are expected to gain further momentum, according to Rong Ren Goh of Eastspring Investments.
The shooting marks the first time a U.S. president or major party candidate has been shot since the attempt on President Ronald Reagan's life in 1981.
"I do think this will have a shock reaction on a market that has been on tenterhooks on the U.S. election.
"I see the odds of the Trump trade getting reinforced over the next few months till November, unless the Democrats can come up with a really credible alternative," commented Hemant Mishr, Chief Investment Officer at S Cube Capital.
Following this incident, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk endorsed Trump.
All in all, the failed assassination attempt is likely to significantly impact the presidential race, which has shown a close contest in opinion polls.
(Reuters contributed to this article)