Market News

Live: Brent Hits $95 After US-Iran Escalation | Gold Slides | Nifty Set for Cautious Open| Opening Bell

Wall Street heads into the opening bell under pressure after a sharp selloff on Wednesday, with all three major U.S. indexes falling more than 1%. Technology and semiconductor stocks remained weak, while escalating tensions in the Middle East added another layer of uncertainty for investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 953 points (-1.87%) to 49,918.78, the S&P 500 dropped 119.66 points (-1.62%) to 7,266.99, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 509.32 points (-1.98%) to 25,169.50. Investor sentiment remains cautious as markets assess the implications of fresh U.S. strikes on Iran and Iran's announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The developments have pushed oil prices sharply higher, raising concerns that elevated energy costs could fuel inflation and keep interest rates higher for longer. The U.S. dollar traded cautiously as investors balanced geopolitical risks against the Federal Reserve's rate outlook. Meanwhile, gold extended its decline, hitting a more than six-month low as rising oil prices and inflation fears dampened expectations for near-term monetary easing. Markets are expected to remain highly sensitive to geopolitical headlines, energy price movements, and interest-rate expectations as trading gets underway.