NYSE:EB 2 December 2025

March 20, 2026, 6:20 PM EDT. Rising oil prices rattled U.S. stock markets on Friday, pushing the Dow Jones down 443 points and the Nasdaq 2% lower. The S&P 500 fell 1.5%, marking its fourth consecutive losing week, the longest slide in a year. Brent crude surged 3.3% to $112.19 per barrel, while U.S. crude rose 2.3% to $98.32. The jump in oil boosted bond yields, increasing borrowing costs and pressuring the economy. Market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut evaporated; traders now see little chance of cuts this year and some even anticipate hikes in 2026. Analysts warn sustained high oil prices risk dragging down growth, complicating the Fed's policy stance amid inflation concerns and geopolitical tension in the Middle East.