War Fever Grips Markets: Defense Stocks Pop as 'World War' Google Searches Explode
Jamie Redman
News
War Fever Grips Markets: Defense Stocks Pop as 'World War' Google Searches Explode
While assets such as gold have gained from the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, defense-related stocks aren’t being left behind. Companies tied to weapons manufacturing, aerospace, and military technology are seeing a boost as global unease stirs investor interest in wartime sectors.
As Gold Shines and the Stock Market Rally Fades, the War Machine Rakes in Gains
War has taken center stage in global consciousness ever since Israel and Iran began trading blows last week—a conflict that hasn’t let up. According to Google Trends, global interest in the phrase “World War” has climbed dramatically over the past 90 days. It hit a peak score of 85 out of 100 on June 15. Narrowing the focus to 30-day data, the term scored 99 on June 14 and maxed out at 100 the following day. Searches for the word “War” are following a similar trajectory.
As tensions mount, gold is holding steady on June 17, with the metal now priced at $3,385 per ounce. Stock markets aren’t faring as well—major U.S. indexes are slipping on Tuesday, and the crypto economy has dropped 3% in the past 24 hours. Yet amid the sell-off, defense and military-focused shares are bucking the trend and moving higher. Take RTX Corp. (formerly Raytheon Technologies), for example—its stock has climbed 5.91% across the past five trading sessions.
War Fever Grips Markets: Defense Stocks Pop as 'World War' Google Searches Explode
RTX Corp. on June 17, 2025.
Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) gained 2% on Tuesday alone and is up 2.36% over the last five days. General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) has advanced 1.33% this week, while Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) tacked on 3.67% over the same stretch. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM) also edged higher, notching a 1.84% increase over five days. Meanwhile, GE Aerospace, Leidos Holdings, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, HEICO Corporation, and Huntington Ingalls Industries are all holding steady with solid gains this week.
The current swell in defense-related investments hints at a broader shift in market psychology—one that prizes geopolitical hedges over risk assets. As volatility reshapes capital flows, investors appear increasingly willing to bet on war-driven industries. Something that always comes to the forefront during times of conflict. This pivot reflects not just reactionary positioning, but a deeper recalibration of priorities in an era where diplomacy feels ever more fragile.
Search trends and trading activity together suggest that anxiety is no longer confined to headlines and speculation—it’s embedded in behavior. Whether driven by fear or foresight, the allocation of capital toward conflict-aligned sectors shows a public reckoning with risk. As uncertainty thickens, both sentiment and strategy are recalibrating to a world where stability feels less like the default.
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