S&P 500, Nasdaq decline amid Middle East tensions
US stocks had a bumpy Friday—S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped, while the Dow barely edged up.
The mood was cautious as worries about the Iran-Israel conflict and possible US involvement kept investors on their toes.
Investors are worried about global conflicts
Uncertainty in global politics is making people rethink their investments.
Trading volume spiked above normal, thanks to both geopolitical jitters and the "triple-witching" event—a quarterly moment when lots of trading contracts expire at once and things get extra busy.
Tech stocks drag down major indexes
Tech stocks like NVIDIA took a hit, dragging down major indexes.
Meanwhile, company earnings were all over the place: Kroger jumped after raising its sales forecast, but Accenture dropped on weak bookings.
On top of that, Federal Reserve officials can't agree on what's next for interest rates or inflation—so there's plenty for investors to puzzle over right now.