US capital markets faced significant selling pressure during Monday's trading (13/7/2026). Major Wall Street indices recorded losses after US President Donald Trump issued statements regarding plans to reinstate blockades at several Iranian ports, following an escalation of tensions between the two countries.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.26 percent at 52,498.7. A steeper drop occurred in the S&P 500 index, which fell 0.79 percent, while the Nasdaq composite index experienced a deep contraction of 1.55 percent to 25,873.18.
The technology sector was the main drag on the market, with the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index plummeting 4.78 percent. Major issuers such as SanDisk, Marvell Technology, and Intel recorded sharp stock price corrections ranging from 6.1 percent to 12.6 percent. SK Hynix shares also fell 9.3 percent after posting an impressive performance in its debut last week.
Amid these conditions, investor focus now shifts to Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's upcoming speech before Congress. The market awaits clarity regarding the Fed's monetary policy trajectory amid inflation shadows stemming from the geopolitical impact of the US-Iran conflict. Projections of a 25 basis point rate hike by the end of the year are now the primary focus of market participants.
Meanwhile, the energy sector posted positive performance as global oil prices rose due to supply concerns. Conversely, safe-haven assets such as gold came under pressure with a price decline of 2.6 percent, impacted by a 0.32 percent rise in the US dollar index.
A similar situation unfolded in European markets, where the STOXX 600 index ended flat due to similar concerns over Middle East stability. London's FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX 30 moved mixed, reflecting global investor uncertainty over near-term economic prospects.
