Market Overview
Broad U.S. markets slid on Friday, with the Dow dropping ~1.8% (~770 points), the S&P 500 down ~1.1%, and the Nasdaq off ~1.3%, largely driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israeli strikes and Iran’s retaliation .
Oil surged ~7–8%, reaching around $73–75/barrel, thanks to fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz .
Investor behavior: Despite geopolitical jitters, there was minimal flight to safety—Treasury prices edged lower, the dollar remained steady, and investors leaned into risk assets like AI stocks and meme plays.#IsraelIranConflict