March 16, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) – Oil prices are down, and stocks are up Monday, though such moves have been quick to reverse since the war in Iran began.

The S&P 500 jumped 1.2% and was on track for its best day in five weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 513 points, or 1.1%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.3% higher.

The driver for markets once again was the price of oil. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude fell 5.3% to $93.57, easing some pressure off the economy after topping $102 earlier in the morning. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 2% to $101.09 per barrel after earlier getting as high as $106.50.

 

Oil prices fell sharply Monday, easing inflation fears and sending U.S. stocks sharply higher, with the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all posting solid gains, despite the ongoing turmoil from the Iran conflict. Benchmark U.S. crude dropped over 5%, retreating from earlier spikes above $100 per barrel caused by Iran blocking traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil shipments. This shutdown has forced producers to cut output, stoking fears of prolonged supply disruptions that could cripple the global economy through soaring inflation. President Trump urged affected nations to secure the strait and pledged significant U.S. support, underscoring the geopolitical tensions fueling market volatility.

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