Nasdaq Composite Plunges 2% as Geopolitical Tensions and Oil Surge Weigh on Tech-Heavy Index The Nasdaq Composite Index fell more than 2% on Friday, March 20, 2026, closing at 21,647.61 after losing 443.08 points. The decline was driven by escalating U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, which pushed oil prices higher and intensified investor fears of prolonged economic disruption. The drop marked the tech-focused benchmark’s steepest single-day fall in recent weeks and extended a fourth consecutive weekly loss for major U.S. equities. The sell-off accelerated during the trading session, with the index opening near 21,989 and dropping as low as 21,522.75 before a late-day recovery failed to reverse broad-based losses. Key sectors like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and data storage were hardest hit, as concerns grew that rising energy costs could reduce corporate profits and slow investments in AI infrastructure. Nvidia Corp. and Microsoft Corp. led the decline among major tech companies, worsening the Nasdaq’s underperformance compared to broader indexes. The S&P 500 fell 1.51% to 6,506.48, down 100.01 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.96%, or 443.96 points, to 45,577.47. The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as Wall Street’s fear gauge, rose 11.31% to 26.78, reflecting heightened market anxiety. The primary driver of the decline was the ongoing Middle East conflict, now in its fourth week, which sent Brent crude prices toward $114 per barrel. Investors worried that sustained high oil prices could reignite inflation concerns, complicate Federal Reserve policy, and strain consumer spending. Reports of intensified U.S.#iran #nasdaq_composite #geopolitical_tensions #oil_surge #u_s_israeli
