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The markets are under pressure to start the session, with all three of the major stock market averages trading in the red. The U.S. is preparing for potential airstrikes on Iran amid escalating tensions, drawing comparisons to the situation leading up to the Iraq invasion in the early 2000s, though President Trump is hopeful for a deal. The uncertainty has sent the Brent oil price soaring to above the $71 per barrel threshold, while Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM | XOM Price Prediction) is tacking on 1% today.
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has reported earnings, and the state of the consumer is split, with higher-income households showing resilience while lower-income families struggle to make ends meet. Additionally, rising geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran have inserted greater uncertainty into the markets, which is also weighing on sentiment.
In the tech sector, the Nasdaq Composite is being dragged lower by the likes of Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), down 1%, Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA), also down 1%, and Micron Technology (Nasdaq; MU), which is tumbling by a steeper 2.6%.
Fed official Neel Kashkari is making the media speaking rounds, reportedly indicating that from where he stands interest rates are close to neutral, though policymakers remain divided.
Here’s a look at where things stand as of morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 49,458.69 Down 203.97 (-0.40%)
Nasdaq Composite: 22,667.94 Down 81.85 (-0.36%)
S&P 500: 6,860.81 Down 21.36 (-0.31%)
Market Movers
Carvana (NYSE: CVNA) stock is falling by 2.4% today on the heels of its earnings print.
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) director John Stanton is increasing his equity ownership in the software giant, laying the regulatory groundwork to scoop up nearly $2 million in MSFT shares.
The CME is gearing up to expand regulated trading of cryptocurrency futures and options to 24/7 starting in late May.
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