Stocks Retreat as the US Attacks Iran

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.69%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.74%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.65%.  March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are down -0.67%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are down -0.70%.

Stock indexes are retreating today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 falling to 1.5-week lows and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling to a 2-month low.

Stocks retreated today after the US and Israel launched joint military attacks on Iran.  President Trump said that combat operations could last for weeks until all objectives were completed.  President Trump has called for Iran’s leaders to capitulate, but Iran’s security chief said that it has no intention of negotiating with the US.

The war in Iran has sparked risk-off sentiment in asset markets and spurred safe-haven demand for precious metals, with gold and silver prices climbing to 1-month highs.  Bond yields initially fell on news of a war with Iran on safe-haven demand, but have since risen, with the 10-year T-note yield up 7 bp to 4.01% amid concern that high oil prices will stoke faster inflation.

WTI crude oil soared more than +8% to an 8.25-month high today as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which runs along Iran's coast and handles a fifth of the world's oil, has largely halted after Iran attacked three oil tankers.  Iran pumps about 3.3 million bpd, or about 3% of global output, but it is strategically important given its location along the strait.  Goldman Sachs estimates the real-time risk premium for crude oil at $18/bbl, corresponding to its estimate of the impact of a six-week full halt to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Market focus this week will be on US-Iran war news, corporate earnings, and economic news.  Later today, the Feb ISM manufacturing index is expected to fall -1.1 to 51.5.  On Wednesday, the Feb ADP employment change is expected to increase by +40,000.  Also, the Feb ISM services index is expected to slip by -0.3 to 53.5. In addition, the Fed releases its Beige Book.  On Thursday, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to increase by +3,000 to 215,000.  Also, Q4 nonfarm productivity is expected to be up +1.8%, and Q4 unit labor costs are expected to be up +2.0%.  On Friday, Feb nonfarm payrolls are expected to increase by +60,000, and the Feb unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3%.  Also, Feb average hourly earnings are expected to increase by +0.3% m/m and +3.7% y/y.  In addition, Feb retail sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m and Feb retail sales ex-autos are expected to remain unchanged m/m.

Q4 earnings season is nearing its end, with more than 90% of the S&P 500 companies having reported earnings results.  Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 74% of the 472 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations.  According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.  Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.

The markets are discounting a 2% chance for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18.

Overseas stock markets are mixed today.  The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1.5-week low and is down -2.55%.  China’s Shanghai Composite climbed to a 1.5-month high and closed up +0.47%.  Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.35%.

Interest Rates

June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are down by -12 ticks.  The 10-year T-note yield is up +6.8 bp to 4.006%.  June T-notes fell from a contract high and turned lower, and the 10-year T-note yield rebounded from an 11.75-month low of 3.922% and moved higher.  T-notes initially rallied today on increased safe-haven demand as stock index futures sold off after the US attacked Iran. However, T-notes gave up their gains and turned lower after WTI crude oil soared to an 8.25-month high, which raised inflation expectations, as the 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 1-week high of 2.300%. 

European government bond yields are moving higher today.  The 10-year German bund yield is up +5.8 bp to 2.701%.  The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 1-week high of 4.372% and is up +12.6 bp to 4.358%.

German Jan retail sales fell -0.9% m/m, weaker than expectations of unchanged m/m and the biggest decline in 19 months.

Swaps are discounting a 1% chance of a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at its next policy meeting on March 19.

US Stock Movers

Airline stocks are under pressure today as crude oil prices surged by more than +8% to an 8.25-month high, which will boost jet fuel prices and potentially cut into airlines’ profits. American Airlines Group (AAL) is down more than -5%, and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) is down more than -3%.  Also, Delta Air Lines (DAL), Alaska Air Group (ALK), and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are down more than -2%.

Cruise line operators are sliding today, led by a -10% decline in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) after forecasting full-year EPS of $2.38, weaker than the consensus of $2.59.  Also, Carnival (CCL) is down more than -10%, Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) is down more than -7%, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) is down more than -5%. 

Defense stocks are moving higher today as the war in Iran boosts their earnings prospects.  Aerovironment (AVAV) is up more than +15%. Northrop Grumman (NOC) and RTX Corp (RTX) are up more than +3%. Lockheed Martin (LMT) and L3Harris Technologies (LHX) are up more than +2%. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and General Dynamics (GD) are up more than +1%.

Energy producers and energy service providers are rallying today with WTI crude (CLJ26) up more than +8% at an 8.25-month high.  ConocoPhillips (COP) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) are up more than +3%.  Also, Exxon Mobil(XOM) and Valero Energy (VLO) are up more than +2%. In addition, APA Corp (APA), Devon Energy (DVN), Diamondback Energy (FANG), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), and Phillips 66 (PSX) are up more than +1%,

UniQure (QURE) is down more than -40% after US regulators said the company should conduct a pivotal study before getting approval for its gene therapy for Huntington’s disease. 

AES Corp (AES) is down more than -17% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after agreeing to be acquired by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT for $15 per share in cash. 

Elevance Health (ELV) is down more than -2% after it said the US government plans to suspend enrollment in its Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans as of March 31, unless compliance issues are resolved.

RadNet (RDNT) is up more than +4% after reporting Q4 revenue of $547.7 million, better than the consensus of $515.4 million. 

EchoStar Corp (SATS) is up more than +1% after reporting Q4 revenue of $3.80 billion, above the consensus of $3.77 billion. 

Earnings Reports(3/2/2026)

AAON Inc (AAON), ADT Inc (ADT), AES Corp/The (AES), AST SpaceMobile Inc (ASTS), Ingram Micro Holding Corp (INGM), MongoDB Inc (MDB), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), Sealed Air Corp (SEE), Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT).