Stock Market Today With IBD Sell-Off Picks Up Steam Amid Iran Escalation; LandBridge, Cardinal Health, USFD In Focus
Mar 12, 2026
Markets skid as indexes tumble and traders reassess risk. Geopolitical flareups in the Middle East push oil near $100 and lift bond yields. Utilities shine as dividend-safe plays while energy names and oil ETFs face added volatility. Small-cap Permian plays, a data-center land deal, and stable drug distribution stocks draw attention.
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Geopolitics Pushed Oil And Broke Market Internals
- Market declines were driven by rising oil and Middle East tensions that spiked WTI toward $95 a barrel.
- Ken Shreve tied higher-volume declines and lower-volume gains to distribution and geopolitical headlines about tanker attacks and Iranian threats.
Volume Pattern Reveals Rally Fragility
- The market showed a pattern of lower-volume advances and higher-volume declines, signaling distribution rather than a healthy rally.
- Ken emphasized the need for higher-volume gains and lower-volume declines to confirm a sustained rally above the 200-day moving average.
Shift Into Utilities During Risk Off Days
- Consider defensive sectors like utilities when markets turn risk off because they offer dividends and stability.
- XLU and names such as Duke Energy showed relative strength and were finding support at short-term moving averages during the sell-off.