ASX:SRME 9 December 2025

March 20, 2026, 12:17 PM EDT. The US stock market fell sharply as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 234 points to 45,787.01, the S&P 500 slid 0.85% to 6,550.12, and the Nasdaq plunged 1.26% to 21,812.80. Investors moved into risk-off mode amid US-Iran conflict escalations and increased US military deployments, driving widespread selling. Energy infrastructure attacks raised supply disruption fears, further pressuring markets. The Nasdaq's larger decline reflects tech stocks' sensitivity to uncertainty. The sell-off points to a shift in investor sentiment amid rising global uncertainty, energy market volatility, and surging bond yields. Market participants now question whether this dip signals a deeper correction or a temporary pullback.