US stock markets experienced a significant decline on Wednesday. At the close of trading in New York, the Dow Jones calculated at 50,687 points, marking a 1.2% drop compared to the previous day. Slightly earlier, the broader S&P 500 was down 0.7% at around 7,554 points, while the technology-focused Nasdaq 100 registered about 30,571 points, declining by 0.3%.
Geopolitical tensions stemming from the Iran conflict continue to influence market activity. As hopes for a swift resolution between the U.S. and Iran fade, market observers are increasingly focusing on reports of local developments. Over the night leading up to Wednesday, attacks were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain. In response, the U.S. military, which maintains bases in the region, carried out strikes against Iranian military installations on the island of Qeschm.
In contrast to the stock market, oil prices rose sharply. The price of a barrel of North Sea Brent crude rose by 2.0% compared to the close of the prior trading day, reaching $97.92 per barrel around 10 PM Central European Time on Wednesday evening.
Regarding other assets, the price of gold saw a noticeable decrease, falling by 1.1% to $4,441 per fine ounce in the evening, equivalent to €123.10 per gram. Meanwhile, the euro weakened against the dollar; the exchange rate stood at $1.1599 for one euro, meaning one dollar could be obtained for €0.8621.
