Articles about Decline

• Three historical factors that preceded double-digit stock-market declines are present simultaneously in 2026, according to DataTrek co-founder Nicholas Colas, signaling heightened risk for U.S. equity investors. • The S&P 500 has dropped 4.7% in March alone and is down 4.2% year-to-date, on track for its worst monthly performance since March 2025 and first quarterly loss since Q1 2025. • Despite warning signs, Colas maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook, stating there is still time to avoid a double-digit loss if Middle East tensions de-escalate swiftly and crude-oil prices decline.

• U.S. equities declined on March 24, 2026, following a stock recovery on Monday, as the Middle East conflict reignited investor concerns and weighed on market sentiment. • The selloff occurred after initial optimism earlier in the week, with mounting concerns about geopolitical risks affecting trading activity throughout the session. • The market downturn reflects broader volatility as investors grapple with the implications of escalating tensions in the region and their potential impact on oil prices and corporate earnings.

• S&P 500 dropped 0.80%, Dow Jones fell 0.83%, and Nasdaq 100 declined 0.98% in early trading on March 24, 2026, amid Middle East tensions. • Crude oil surged over 4% to $91.80, up $3.67, as Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denied US negotiations, contradicting President Trump's claims of productive talks. • Citi analysts warn prolonged conflict could push oil to $200 per barrel, heightening inflation fears and pressuring equities.

• The US long winter COVID-19 wave is ending with all major metrics showing declines or plateaus in SARS-CoV-2 spread nationwide as of mid-March 2026. • COVID-19 test positivity dropped to 2.5% for the week ending March 14, the lowest since 2022, while emergency department visits for COVID reached just 0.4%. • Cases are declining or likely declining in 45 states per CDC forecasts as of March 17, with flu-like illness visits down 12% to 3.3% and RSV levels also falling.

Woodcocks and pochard, pintail and goldeneye ducks among threatened species protected by proposalsHunters will be banned from shooting a rare and beautiful duck under new proposals to halt the decline of six British wild birds.The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the distinctive woodcock, and the striking pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks, all of which are classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years. Continue reading...

• US equity markets including S&P 500 fell 1.9% last week, breaching the 200-day moving average for the first time since May 2025 amid geopolitical tensions and inflation pressures. • Nasdaq 100 dropped 2.0% and Dow Jones 2.1%, with VIX near 27 and CNN Fear and Greed Index at 15 signaling high investor anxiety. • Persistent inflation data and fading AI optimism drove declines, positioning US Tech 100 below key moving averages with risks of further drops to 23,000.

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations declined 42% in the week ending March 20, 2026, compared to the peak surge in February, according to CDC surveillance data. • The decline follows the introduction of the first RSV vaccines approved for adults over 60 and high-risk populations, with over 8 million doses administered since January. • RSV typically causes severe disease in infants and older adults; the new vaccines represent a major breakthrough after decades of failed vaccine development efforts.

• The S&P 500 dropped approximately 1%, Nasdaq slid 2.3%, and the Dow remained slightly higher on Wednesday as technology led a broad risk-off move triggered by renewed AI disruption fears and weak corporate guidance. • AMD plunged nearly 17% on disappointing outlook, dragging the semiconductor complex lower with Broadcom falling 7%, Micron dropping 11%, Lam Research down 10%, and Applied Materials declining 9%. • Software stocks extended recent declines as investors reassessed competitive risks following new AI product releases, raising concerns that automation could erode pricing power and margins across enterprise, legal, and financial software sectors.

US president claims he ‘always says yes’ to Australia, Japan and South Korea, after saying he didn’t need help from trio of countries earlier this weekDonald Trump says he is “very surprised” Australia has not sent warships to aid in opening the strait of Hormuz as the blockade of the key strategic route for global oil supply continues to impact fuel prices.“I was very surprised,” the US president said in Washington on Friday when asked what he took issue with regarding Japan, South Korea and Australia. Continue reading...

• U.S. stock markets closed lower Thursday as an energy shock continued weighing on investor sentiment, with the S&P 500 falling 0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.44%, and the Nasdaq Composite declining 0.28%. • Commodity-linked stocks experienced severe selloffs: gold fell 4.94%, aluminum dropped over 5%, mining shares plummeted with Hycroft Mining sliding 12.4% and Century Aluminum falling 10.3%. • Asian markets showed mixed performance Friday, with South Korea's Kospi rising 0.6% and China's Shanghai Composite edging 0.2% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.6%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5%, and Taiwan's Taiex declined 0.2%, with Japan's markets closed for a holiday.

• US stock indexes opened lower on March 18, 2026, following accelerated Producer Price Index (PPI) data for February, with Russell 2000 down 0.84%, Dow Jones -0.42%, S&P 500 -0.28%, and Nasdaq -0.23%. • The Cboe Volatility Index rose 3.76% to 23.21, while US 10-year Treasury yield increased 2.2 basis points to 4.224%, and gold futures fell nearly 3% to $4,860.40. • Investors await Federal Reserve's afternoon decision expected to keep rates steady but provide economic insights amid inflation concerns and Iran conflict escalation.

• U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday, rebounding from 2026 lows as crude oil prices fell, easing inflation concerns and spurring gains across all three major indexes. • The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8% or 387.94 points to 46,946.41, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.2% or 268.82 points to 22,374.18, and the S&P 500 rose 1% to 6,699.38; technology stocks led gains amid AI trade recovery. • The CBOE Volatility Index declined 13.5% to 23.51, signaling reduced market anxiety, with 25 of 30 Dow components ending in positive territory.

• Research firm IDC significantly lowered its 2026 PC shipment forecast to an 11.3% decline, compared to the previous projection of a 2.4% drop, driven by ongoing memory shortages, rising component costs, and supply chain disruptions expected to persist into 2027. • Tablet shipments are also expected to fall 7.6% in 2026, though the overall market value is projected to increase slightly as higher component costs drive up per-unit prices for computers and devices. • IDC predicts that truly inexpensive computers will become rarer as the industry adapts to a new normal with elevated component pricing, fundamentally changing the affordable computing landscape.

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that gasoline prices could decline by summer despite ongoing disruptions from the Iran war and threats to global oil supplies. • The forecast suggests potential relief from elevated energy costs that have accompanied the three-week conflict, though oil markets remain volatile due to Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory attacks on regional infrastructure. • The projection reflects administration confidence in energy supply alternatives and market stabilization even as the conflict continues to create supply-chain uncertainties.

• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that gasoline prices could decline by summer despite current elevations caused by Iran war-related supply disruptions and Strait of Hormuz tensions. • The projection offers some relief to consumers facing inflationary pressures from energy markets, contingent on conflict de-escalation or resolution within the coming months.

• US stock futures fell in early Monday trading on March 16, 2026, while oil prices gained amid supply fears following a US military strike on Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export terminal. • The S&P 500 dropped 1.6% last week to close at 6,632.19, marking its third straight weekly decline, with the Dow down 2% and Nasdaq off 1.3% due to geopolitical tensions and soaring oil. • Escalation risks persist as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, threatening prolonged supply disruptions and potential oil prices up to $200 per barrel in 2026, impacting global markets and commodities.

The S&P 500 closed Friday at 6,632.19, down 0.61% for the day and marking its lowest level of 2026 so far, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 119.38 points. This weekly slide reflects broader concerns over escalating Middle East tensions impacting energy supply chains. Energy stocks like Exxon Mobil and Chevron surged over 20% year-to-date, offsetting losses in airlines such as American Airlines down 31%, highlighting sector divergence. Markets face heightened volatility next week depending on oil prices and geopolitical developments.

Wall Street closed lower on Friday with all three major indexes ending the week in the red, while the Russell 2000 hit its lowest level of the year, despite strong corporate earnings and solid guidance reportedly supporting broader market trends. Meta Platforms shares fell nearly 4% following a report that the social media giant has postponed the release of its AI model Avocado to at least May, signaling potential delays in the company's AI product roadmap. Ulta Beauty shares slumped more than 14% as rising costs deepened margin concerns, with the company's new CEO flagging potential global cost impacts. The mixed market performance reflects investor uncertainty about technology sector growth prospects amid ongoing economic and competitive pressures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average held near 46,702 on March 13, 2026, but is down 1.6% for the week as investors take profits following strong early-year gains. This resilience contrasts with sharper Nasdaq (-0.6% week-to-date) and S&P 500 (-1.1%) drops amid rising oil and geopolitical concerns. The trend reflects normal market consolidation, with analysts viewing it as healthy after rallies in tech and semis. Upcoming focus remains on global oil flows and regional ceasefire talks.

Tesla held steady near $395 on March 13, 2026, showing stability amid Nasdaq's 100-point drop to 22,211 driven by geopolitical tensions. The performance reflects relative EV sector resilience, alongside NIO's 4% gain on improving global sentiment. This contrasts with broader profit-taking, positioning Tesla as a volatility outlier. Watch for EV policy shifts in upcoming sessions.

Biotech firm Immutep Ltd. crashed more than 80% on March 13, 2026, becoming one of the biggest decliners amid a mixed US market session pressured by geopolitical fears. The plunge contrasted with gains in AI leaders like Intel (+1.7%), Tesla (steady at $395), and Nokia (+1.4%), highlighting sector rotation. This extreme volatility amplifies risks in biotech amid elevated VIX at 26.49 and weekly index losses. Investors may monitor clinical trial updates or funding news for rebound potential.

On March 13, 2026, thousands filled Tehran's streets for Al-Quds Day celebrations marking the third week of war with the US and Israel, highlighting ongoing anti-Western sentiment. Concurrently, polls show waning American tolerance for the protracted conflict, with growing domestic calls for de-escalation amid economic strain. The rallies underscore Iran's resolve, potentially complicating diplomatic efforts as the US bolsters its Middle East presence.

US equity futures fell sharply on March 13, 2026, extending a market slide amid Brent oil prices surpassing $100 a barrel due to escalating tensions from the US-Israel war with Iran. Chevron shares rose 30% year-to-date while ConocoPhillips dipped slightly in premarket trading, reflecting energy sector volatility. The rally in oil prices deepened fears of a global inflation spike, with experts warning it poses the biggest risk to macro sentiment. Markets anticipate further volatility as the Trump administration advances second-round tariff investigations on 60 economies.