Stock market news for March 17, 2026
Traders work on the ground on the New York Stock Exchange, March 17, 2026.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
The S&P 500 rose on Tuesday as Wall Street constructed on the momentum seen within the earlier session amid developments within the Iran warfare.
The broad market index closed up 0.25% at 6,716.09, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.47% to complete at 22,479.53. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 46.85 factors, or 0.1%, to finish at 46,993.26.
Volatile oil costs and the fallout of the Iran warfare proceed to affect investor sentiment. On Tuesday, oil prices summarized their ascent, with world benchmark Brent Crude rising 3% — solidly above the $100 mark.
Despite the rise in oil costs, the S&P 500’s shopper discretionary group was notably up 1% on the day, led by positive aspects in Expedia Group and Booking Holdings. Strong income steering from airways Delta and American boosted these names. The sector is down greater than 2% this month, nevertheless.
Energy was the index’s main sector, including simply above 1%. The transfer places its month-to-date positive aspects at greater than 4%.
Oil costs
Oil’s bounce got here after President donald trump prompt on Monday {that a} coalition to guard transport alongside the Strait of Hormuz is still in the works. Then, on Tuesday, Trump mentioned in a Truth Social put up that the US didn’t need assistance from NATO or different international locations to hold out the escort plans.
“Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s Military,” Trump mentioned within the put up. “Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer “want,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID.”
Stocks eased from their highs following the put up whereas crude ticked increased, suggesting buyers hoped a coalition would happen.
“Investors remain hopeful that a quick and relatively painless solution to the situation will be found, and that it will prove to be the latest in a long, relatively unbroken series of dip-buying opportunities,” mentioned Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “There is also a fair degree of residual FOMO, which is why … small bounces morph into relatively substantial upward moves, even if a fundamental reason appears to be lacking.”
Oil costs have emerged for the reason that begin of the US-Israel attacks on Iran on worries {that a} extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz might result in a worldwide disruption of power provides.
Wall Street is watching for additional developments on the warfare, particularly after Iran’s safety chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in airstrikes overnight. That’s in line with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“Market participants may be assuming this is very similar to the Liberation Day tariffs imposed by the US, and that this will be a short-lived problem that ends once the US chooses to withdraw from the military conflict,” mentioned Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group. “I think that is a mistaken assumption. Tariffs are a relatively simple problem for markets because they can be unilaterally withdrawn whenever the US chooses to do so. Wars, unlike tariffs, cannot be turned on and turned off like a switch.”
