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
Energy Prices Will Drop When U.S. Disables Iran’s Ability to Attack Tankers in Strait of Hormuz: Wright U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed energy prices will decline once the United States significantly reduces Iran’s capacity to target tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Wright emphasized that a single large tanker recently navigated the strait without incident, and the process of restoring safe passage will take “weeks, certainly not months.” Global energy prices have surged since the conflict began, with oil prices exceeding $90 per barrel and continuing to rise. Wright stated that the U.S. is intensifying efforts to neutralize Iran’s ability to disrupt tanker traffic through the strait, which is a critical route for 20% of the world’s energy supply. “We’re massively attriting their ability to strike with missiles and drones,” Wright said during an interview on Fox News Sunday. “That rate of attrition will increase in the coming days. Energy will flow soon.” The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point for global energy markets, as approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated bottlenecks, contributing to record-high prices. In the U.S., average gas prices have climbed to over $3.46 per gallon, while crude oil prices have surpassed $91 per barrel, with Brent crude reaching more than $92 per barrel. Wright’s comments align with broader concerns about the economic impact of the war. President Donald Trump, who previously campaigned on promises to lower gas prices and combat inflation, has repeatedly highlighted the issue ahead of the November midterm elections. However, the current crisis has led to persistent spikes in energy costs, underscoring the urgency of resolving the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S.#iran #strait_of_hormuz #u_s #chris_wright #fox_news_sunday
Iran War Tests Investors. How To Navigate Stock Market Trading Risks During Global Conflicts When a crisis such as the Iran war breaks out, investors' emotions can run wild. Fear of financial losses and the fog of war cloud stock market trading decisions. How can investors handle the latest conflict and its unpredictable moves? Geopolitical shocks are times for investors to summon the nerves of a warrior and stay with the rhythms of the stock market — not necessarily each day's results, investing veterans say. Rather than try to keep up with headlines from distant battlefields, the playbook for crisis investing is as close as your trading screen. Studying the behavior of the major market indexes and leading stocks provides the best way to navigate storms, as it does in any environment, experts say. "Investing based on geopolitics is a losing proposition," said Paul Schatz, president of Heritage Capital in Woodbridge, Conn., in a note to clients. Even with signs foreshadowing the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, it was difficult to gauge market reaction. "It's no different than Nvidia's earnings, which I thought would blow out," Schatz said. "Yet, I had no idea how the stock would react." History shows that markets can overreact when a new crisis starts. But they usually calm themselves and return to the prevailing trend that existed before the crisis. Wars typically don't cause bear markets. The Yom Kippur war of 1973 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 occurred while the S&P 500 was already in a bear market. Neither crisis did anything to turn the market around. A table detailing the S&P 500's performance after key geopolitical events reveals that while short-term volatility is common, long-term trends often persist. For example, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 saw the index rise 5.10% in one month and 27.#iran #israel #s_p_500 #u_s #george_smith
