Wall Street Hit by Middle East Crisis: Middle East tensions spike as Israel strikes Iran, sending oil prices soaring and global markets into sharp decline.
I see rising Middle East tensions creating uncertainty in global mobility. Such events may affect visa approvals and international job placements.
Miler Michel
Summary
- Israel escalates airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear, missile, and gas infrastructure—codenamed Operation Rising Lion—hitting over 100 targets including the Natanz facility in Bushehr province. Top Iranian military and scientific figures were among the casualties en.wikipedia.org+4reuters.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
- Iran retaliates with hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles aimed at cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Some strikes caused civilian fatalities and injuries theguardian.com.
- Oil prices spiked—first by ~7%, then surging over 10–13%—as markets feared supply chain disruptions, especially around the Strait of Hormuz economictimes.indiatimes.com+12ft.com+12en.wikipedia.org+12.
- U.S. stock futures saw a sharp decline, with Dow futures falling between 600 and 800 points (around 1.5% to 1.8%), the S&P 500 slipping approximately 1.1%, and the Nasdaq dropping by 1% to 1.3%.
- Safe-haven assets rallied—gold, U.S. Treasuries, the dollar, Swiss franc—while airline stocks tumbled due to rising fuel and diverted flights.
- Volatility spiked: the VIX hit a three-week high (~20.8), reflecting investor jitters reuters.com.
- Geopolitical spillover: Gulf markets dropped, nuclear talks between U.S. and Iran were postponed, and analysts warned of sustained market swings financialexpress.com+10reuters.com+10nypost.com+10.
- Global implications: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy expressed concern that jumping oil prices may bolster Russia’s war efforts apnews.com.
🎯 Geopolitical Shock: Middle East Strikes Rattle Markets
- What happened?
Israel intensified operations across Iran—targeting nuclear, gas, and missile sites under “Operation Rising Lion.” Iran responded with missile and drone waves over Israeli cities. - Market reaction:
Oil jumped over 10% as fears of a supply squeeze grew.
U.S. futures fell sharply by 1% to 2%, with Dow contracts losing approximately 700 points.
Safe-haven assets like gold, Treasuries, and the dollar surged.
Airlines slumped as fuel prices soared and flight routes were altered.
Volatility spiked—VIX hit a three-week high.
Why it matters:
This escalation jeopardizes the global oil supply, stalls U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations, and impacts other geopolitical regions such as Ukraine and the Gulf markets.
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