Market Turmoil: How $100 Oil, Inflation Concerns, and Earnings Shaped This Week’s Trading

TLDR Major U.S. equity indexes recorded their third consecutive weekly decline, pressured by crude oil surpassing $100 per barrel and renewed inflation concerns. Oil prices jumped approximately 9% following Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions that disrupted critical shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Oracle exceeded earnings projections with revenue growth exceeding 20%, driven by robust AI infrastructure and cloud computing demand. Gold prices retreated roughly 1% despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty, constrained by U.S. dollar strength that dampened safe-haven appeal. Energy sector equities led weekly gains, while consumer staples and healthcare sectors tumbled 4–5%. American equity markets extended their losing streak to three consecutive weeks as crude oil prices breached the $100-per-barrel threshold and escalating Middle Eastern conflicts unnerved market participants. The three primary benchmarks all concluded the week ending March 13, 2026, in negative territory. The S&P 500 declined approximately 1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated around 2%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped roughly 1.3%. Smaller-capitalization stocks mirrored this weakness, with the Russell 2000 shedding about 1.8%. [[IMG_2]]E-Mini S&P 500 Mar 26 (ES=F) Energy markets dominated headlines. Crude oil prices skyrocketed approximately 9% after military tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran created significant disruptions to maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Market observers characterized the move as one of the most dramatic weekly spikes in oil futures witnessed since the 1980s. Just 2 hours after markets closed: President Trump is now threatening to strike oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, which accounts for 2% of global supply, if Iran doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, last month, production coming from Kharg Island hit 3 million… https://t.co/pzI2GuoCoz — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLett...