Hedge funds have significantly increased their bearish positions on U.S. stocks, reaching levels not seen in nearly five years, as tensions in the Middle East escalate. According to Goldman Sachs, hedge funds raised their short positions in stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by 8.3% in the week ending March 6. This move reflects growing concerns over the impact of the Iran conflict on global markets. Senior strategist Ed Yardeni has raised the probability of a market crash this year from 20% to 35%, citing the ongoing Middle East tensions and inflationary pressures. These factors are expected to constrain household spending, erode corporate profit margins, and complicate the Federal Reserve's policy decisions, prompting short-term investors to increase their bearish bets on the U.S. stock market.