Nasdaq slides as US stocks dive on Iran tensions and oil surge
Nasdaq slides as US stocks dive on Iran tensions and oil surge
Markets reel as Nasdaq confirms a correction while major indices slump amid Middle East uncertainty and rising oil prices, fueling inflation fears.
Global markets tumbled as fears of a U.S.-Iran conflict intensified, sending oil prices higher and fanning inflation worries. The Nasdaq confirmed a correction, while the S&P 500 and Dow posted sizable declines as investors fled risk assets amid a fog of war. Tech and communications stocks were hit hardest, underscoring the broad uncertainty choking sentiment across sectors.
In midday trading, the S&P 500’s notable gainers included Valero Energy at 5.80%, Best Buy at 4.65%, Gartner at 4.24%, and Occidental Petroleum at 4.06%. The biggest laggards were AppLovin down 10.41%, Lam Research down 9.35%, Arista Networks down 9.23%, and Lennox International down 9.01%.
European markets opened lower as investors weighed mixed signals on Middle East peace talks later in the day, adding to a global sense of caution. Reports from across markets noted the Nasdaq’s troubling slide even as some pockets of strength emerged in energy names, underscoring the split between energy resilience and technology softness.
Analysts cautioned that higher oil prices and inflation concerns could keep pressure on equities in the near term, with traders dialing in geopolitical risk into pricing models. For investors, the focus is on how developments in the Middle East and energy markets might shape monetary policy expectations and liquidity conditions in coming weeks.
