Market Overview

U.S. equities closed lower on Friday to cap a turbulent week dominated by geopolitical uncertainty. The S&P 500 fell approximately 0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 119 points (about 0.26%), and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.93% to close near 22,105. All three major indices notched their third consecutive weekly decline, with the S&P 500 losing roughly 1.6% for the week and sitting near its lowest levels since November.

Key Indicators

Crude oil surged as the Iran conflict showed no signs of de-escalation — WTI futures settled up about 3.1% at $98.71 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed 2.7% to $103.14. Gold dipped modestly (down approximately 0.3% to around $5,108), as rising Treasury yields competed with safe-haven demand. The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.11% on persistent inflation fears, bucking its typical haven role during geopolitical stress.

Market Sentiment

Volatility remained elevated, with the VIX climbing to around 27 — well above its long-run average — reflecting continued investor anxiety over the U.S.-Iran conflict and its ripple effects on energy prices and inflation expectations. Broad market sentiment leaned bearish, as dip-buying attempts early in the session faded into the close. The week marked a clear risk-off posture across asset classes, with energy being the notable outlier to the upside.

Sources

Market data sourced from major financial outlets including CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and TheStreet as of March 14, 2026.