Wall Street Stocks Waver Amid Escalating Iran Conflict and Tariffs

Stocks on Wall Street experienced a mixed finish on Friday as oil prices fell for the first time in a week. Despite some gains, major indices overall lost ground due to increased pressure from the U.S.-Iran conflict and new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

The S&P 500 barely budged, rising only 3.68 points or less than 0.1% to 7,411.98. The index marked its second consecutive losing week since March.

Brent crude prices fell 3.9% to $96.78, a decline after four days of gains. This drop is concerning for energy markets, which are still recovering from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Markets in Europe saw gains, while Asian markets closed lower. The U.S. trade war escalated further with new tariffs on dozens of nations, impacting nearly all U.S. imports and potentially leading to higher inflation.