DIA Set To Crack 100-DMA For First Time In Over 8 Months U.S. index futures fell sharply in Tuesday’s pre-market session, reflecting broader global market declines driven by the escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. The war in the Middle East, now in its fourth day, has pushed crude oil prices higher and reignited concerns about inflation. Investors are shifting toward safer assets, but the strengthening U.S. dollar has tempered demand for gold, which saw a 2% drop in spot prices. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) declined 1.7% in pre-market trading, while the Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (QQQ) fell over 2%. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) dropped nearly 2%, poised to fall below its 100-day moving average for the first time since June 23, 2025. This decline mirrors broader market weakness, as Asian and European stock markets also experienced steep losses. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for April delivery rose 7.8% to $76.78 per barrel, while Brent Crude contracts for April 2026 gained 2.5% to $72.5 per barrel. Rising oil prices have amplified inflation fears, prompting investors to seek safer havens. However, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) climbed to its highest level since January 19, reaching 99.3, as the dollar outperformed gold. Spot gold prices fell 2% to $5,213.8 per ounce, with April 2026 contracts dropping 0.9% to $5,263.20. Analysts attribute the dollar’s strength to heightened inflationary risks from the Middle East conflict, which has raised expectations for higher interest rates. Thu Lan Nguyen of Commerzbank noted that markets are prioritizing inflation concerns over traditional safe-haven assets like gold. Spot silver (XAG/USD) plummeted over 11%, falling below $80 for the first time since February 2020.#middle_east #u_s #commerzbank #spdr_sp500_etf #spdr_dow_jones_industrial_average_etf
