Oil Surges, Iran War Intensifies as US Stocks Continue Sharp Decline

U.S. equity markets plunged Thursday as escalating Middle East hostilities and a surge in crude oil above $100 a barrel rattled investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) led the selloff, plummeting over 500 points (1.2%), with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) each falling roughly 0.8% amid fears that sustained conflict and soaring energy costs will further pressure the economy and consumer spending.