Stocks Mixed on Wall Street Amid Oil Price Drop
Wall Street ended Friday with a mixed performance as crude oil prices fell for the first time in seven days, amid ongoing tensions from the U.S.-Iran conflict and new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The S&P 500 barely moved while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose slightly, but the Nasdaq declined due to losses among major tech stocks like Micron Technology and Broadcom. The drop in oil prices came after a week of rising tensions that have threatened global energy flows. Analysts warn that if conflicts continue, especially around key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, it could severely impact an already weakened energy market. Brent crude fell 3.9% to $96.78 per barrel. Investors are also bracing for potential rate hikes by the Federal Reserve due to rising inflation concerns exacerbated by higher energy costs and new tariffs on global imports.