MRKT Matrix Stocks Remain Resilient Despite Middle East Conflict
Mar 3, 2026
Markets shake off Middle East tensions while stocks show resilience amid big intraday swings. Dollar rallies back to safe-haven status as oil and yield fears rise. Private credit faces pressure with notable fund redemptions and liquidity worries. Tech news includes Apple’s pricier AI-focused MacBooks and debate over layoffs tied to artificial intelligence.
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Markets React Fast To Iran Conflict
- Stocks swung sharply on U.S.-Iran conflict fears, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq sliding about 1% after deeper intraday losses.
- Oil spiked over 9% intraday then cooled, driving yield and volatility moves that highlighted market sensitivity to geopolitical energy risk.
Dollar Reasserts Safe Haven Role
- Investors rushed into the U.S. dollar, producing its strongest two-day rally in nearly a year as oil and inflation fears pushed bond yields higher.
- Bloomberg framed the dollar as the primary safe haven while treasuries and gold lost some protective appeal amid rising yields.
Strait Of Hormuz Disruptions Threaten Energy Supply
- Iranian attacks disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening about 18 million barrels per day of oil and significant LNG supply.
- While ample supply and U.S. shale capped immediate price spikes, prolonged disruptions could trigger bigger inflation and policy responses.