Stocks fall, gold and oil rise after Middle East attacks
(VOVWORLD) - US stock markets were lower at the close on Saturday, just hours after the US and Israel confirmed strikes on Iran.
 Traders at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, US, February 27, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The S&P 500 index lost 0.43%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.05%, and the NASDAQ Composite index declined 0.29%. Dow futures extended losses in after-hours trading, sliding a further 622 points.
Investors said that in the medium term, defense stocks could see gains amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Bitcoin retreated to near 63,000 USD on Saturday, down about 3% within a matter of hours, its lowest since early February.
In contrast, oil and gold prices surged. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose to 67.29 USD per barrel, while Brent crude climbed to 72.64 USD. Gold prices jumped nearly 2% to trade at 5,296 USD.
Alexey Belogoriev, research director at the Institute of Energy and Finance, said the renewed conflict in the Middle East could drive oil prices above 80 USD per barrel.