U.S. Stocks Fall as Middle East Conflict Drives Oil Prices Higher and Jobs Data Weaken

U.S. stock markets declined amid escalating Middle East tensions and rising oil prices, with the Dow dropping over 900 points and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also falling. Oil prices surged to near two-year highs, driven by conflict-related disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and concerns over global supply. Concurrently, weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data heightened economic uncertainty, influencing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Market reactions reflect worries about inflation, economic slowdown, and prolonged geopolitical instability.