Articles about Market Declines

• 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.

• 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.

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.