New York stock exchanges opened this Thursday with broad losses, in a session dominated by the military escalation in the Middle East. The Dow Jones falls 500,52 points, or 0,96%, to 51.718,06.
The S&P 500 today drops 76,45 points, or 1,02%, to 7.422,51, while the Nasdaq Composite leads the losses with a decline of 1,91%, at 25.200,10. The Russell 2000, of smaller companies, falls 0,54%, to 2.944,01.
The trigger came from the energy market. The Houthi group, backed by Tehran, claimed responsibility for attacks against two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, fueling fears that the conflict could take on new regional dimensions.
Tensions increased after the current U.S. president, Donald Trump, threatened to strike Iranian infrastructure in response to new attacks on the maritime route.
"From now on, whenever the Islamic Republic of Iran fires at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether by Missile, Rocket, Drone or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy A BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or within, the Capital Tehran," he wrote.
WTI oil jumps 5,63%, to US$ 91,72 per barrel, while Brent for July rises 6% and surpasses US$ 100. Both are trading at the highest levels since the agreement that ended the confrontation between Washington and Tehran last month.
Fear dominates risk indicators: the VIX index surges 13,31%, to 18,86 points. Gold, a traditional safe haven, is not following the move and falls 2,55%, to US$ 4.045,90 an ounce.
Cryptocurrencies are following the stock markets' risk aversion. Bitcoin drops 1,02% and is traded at US$ 65.091,55, also pressured by Treasury yields, with the ten-year note at its highest level since January 2025.
"Inflation remained at the top of markets' agenda this morning, with Brent oil rising... while the escalation in the Middle East continues," wrote Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank in a note.
"Indeed, the attacks between the U.S. and Iran show no signs of easing, and the Houthis said they attacked two oil tankers in the Red Sea yesterday, increasing fears that the conflict is broadening. This pushed oil prices to a seven-week high and also fueled speculation about more interest rate hikes."
On the corporate side, Alphabet falls 6% after raising its investment forecast for 2026 to as much as US$ 205 billion, citing demand for artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Tesla plunges more than 12% with quarterly results below expectations and operating expenses growing faster than revenue.