The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed little connected Friday amid fears of a widening warfare and ostentation spikes driven by rising power costs. Traders rushed to safe havens, driving up nan U.S. dollar and golden prices.
U.S. airstrikes connected 3 awesome Iranian atomic sites person ignited world fears of wider conflict.
President Donald Trump framed nan strikes arsenic a unit maneuver to bring Tehran backmost to nan negotiating table, insisting that nary further attacks are planned “for now.” But nan Middle East remains connected edge. U.S. forces and location friends are connected precocious alert for imaginable Iranian retaliation against American aliases allied targets.
Brent crude futures spiked astir 18% during nan week, concisely rubbing $79 per tube earlier retreating. By week’s end, lipid settled astir $77, pinch West Texas Intermediate hovering adjacent $75.
Shipping insurers flagged nan Strait of Hormuz arsenic a high-risk zone, doubling tanker rates and forcing immoderate vessels to reroute.
“The consequence premium connected lipid is backmost pinch a vengeance,” said an power strategist astatine Saxo Markets. “If Strait is compromised, $120 lipid isn’t retired of nan question.”
Multiple awesome banks and analysts (including JP Morgan, Citi, and Deutsche Bank) person modeled scenarios wherever a afloat closure aliases extended disruption of nan Strait could push crude lipid prices to $120–$130 per barrel, aliases moreover higher if nan disruption is prolonged
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed little connected Friday amid fears of a widening warfare and ostentation spikes driven by rising power costs. Traders rushed to safe havens, driving up nan U.S. dollar and golden prices. Market volatility surged arsenic investors closed retired positions up of nan weekend.
As markets hole to reopen Monday, analysts pass of crisp value gaps if Iran retaliates aliases caller attacks occur. “Equities are connected a knife’s edge,” said a portfolio manager.
Beyond markets, nan conflict poses superior argumentation dilemmas. Higher lipid prices whitethorn derail cardinal banks' plans to trim liking rates. Global ostentation could reheat conscionable arsenic galore economies effort to cool.
Though Trump has near nan doorway unfastened to diplomacy, nan coming days will trial whether this is simply a pivot point—or nan commencement of a deeper conflagration.
Published on: Jun 22, 2025 6:49 AM IST