Oil prices surge, stock futures slide after U.S. strikes Iran
By Steve Kopack
Published on March 1, 2026.
The price of oil rose after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to the death of Iran's supreme leader, led to a 12% increase in crude oil prices. The international oil benchmark, Brent, surged 14% after trading began at 6 p.m. ET Sunday. While Iran's oil production is estimated to be less than 5% of global output, it has significant influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for over 20% of the world's daily oil demand. This increase could lead to higher gas prices for consumers as soon as this week. Stock futures also dropped, with futures indicating where the S&P 500 will trade tomorrow dropping 1.1% and Nasdaq 100 futures sliding 1.2%. The U.K. Dollar Index rose 0.3%, and the price of precious metals soared, with gold hitting $5,350.
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