U.S. stock markets slipped on Thursday. At the close in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 49 395 points, down 0.5 percent from the previous trading day. A few minutes earlier, the broader S&P 500 traded around 6 862 points, also lower by 0.3 percent, while the technology‑heavy Nasdaq Composite finished at about 24 797 points, down 0.4 percent.
Investors were weighing the likelihood and potential fallout of a military standoff between the United States and Iran. The German Bundeswehr is withdrawing troops from northern Iraq, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged Polish citizens in Iran to leave the country within hours. U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding a deal with the Tehran regime within 10 to 15 days, while both sides prepare for possible escalation. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. has marshaled air combat power in the Middle East equal to its largest buildup since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The euro eased in the evening. One euro cost 1.1770 U.S. dollars, meaning a dollar was priced at 0.8496 euros.
Gold firmed in the night session. The benchmark price for a troy ounce rose to $5 000, a gain of 0.5 percent, which translates to about €136.57 per gram.
Oil rallied sharply. At around 10:00 p.m. German time, Brent crude from the North Sea was priced at $71.93 per barrel-an increase of 2.3 percent over the close of the previous day.
