Wall Street drops amid Middle East tensions, oil hits highest level since June 2025

Wall Street opened lower due to growing fears related to the conflict in the Middle East.

The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, along with the Nasdaq Composite. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also recorded a significant decline, losing 398 points, or 0.8%.

The session therefore closed in negative territory for Wall Street’s major indexes, signaling a climate of uncertainty among investors.

U.S. crude oil prices reached their highest level since June 2025 after Iran claimed to have attacked a tanker.

U.S. crude rose 3.8%, or $2.86, to $77.52 per barrel, while the global benchmark Brent increased 2.9%, or $1.89, to $83.75 per barrel.

During the session, U.S. crude briefly surpassed $78 per barrel, the highest level since the United States and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. Oil prices have risen about 15% this week. Natural gas also posted a gain of 0.86%.

As for metals, the overall picture is negative. Gold fell 0.41%, trading at $5,122 per ounce, while silver declined 0.97%.

Benedetta Zimone