Wall Street Stocks Waver Amid Escalating Tensions and Inflation Concerns

Wall Street stocks drifted to a mixed finish on Friday amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns about inflation. The S&P 500 barely budged, rising just 3.68 points or less than 0.1% to 7,411.98.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 235.60 points or 0.5% to 51,947.25, while the Nasdaq fell 161.87 points or 0.6% to 24,975.82.

Heavy fighting in the Middle East has threatened the global flow of oil and gas, leading to a decline in crude oil prices for the first time in a week. Brent crude fell 3.9% to $96.78 after rising above $100 earlier in the week.

The escalating conflict with Iran has also led to increased concerns about inflation and its impact on the economy. The Federal Reserve meets next week and is closely monitoring prices and their impact on interest rates.