U.S. equity markets slipped again on Friday as worries over the potential spill‑over from the Iran conflict pushed investors into a risk‑off mode. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.0 % to finish at 47,502 points, the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.5 % to 24,643, and the broader S&P‑500 slipped 1.3 % to close at 6,740.
Inflation concerns were amplified by rising energy prices and a surprisingly weak labor‑market report released that day. Fears of a tightening credit environment also circulated, prompting many investors to move assets into cash. The result was a sharp sell‑off in BlackRock shares, which fell roughly 7 %. Bitcoin also fell 4 % to €58,650 per coin.
Tech stocks were dragged down by continued uncertainty around AI. Oracle and OpenAI’s joint plans for a new data center in Texas were postponed, sending semiconductor shares sharply lower.
Currency and commodity markets were mixed. The euro strengthened modestly against the dollar, trading at $1.1613 (€0.8611 per dollar). Gold benefitted, trading at $5,171 per ounce (+1.7 %) – equivalent to €143.16 per gram. Oil continued its ascent; Brent crude was priced at $92.84 per barrel by 10 p.m. German time, up 8.7 % from the previous day’s close.
