US stocks closed week in red amid clashes in Middle East

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The major US stock markets closed the week on a negative note on Friday, amid continuing hostility between Iran and Israel.

Israel began its military operation early Friday, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military facilities and killing its top military commanders and scientists. The attacks continued until Friday night, with cities such as Tehran, Natanz, Tabriz, and Isfahan hit.

Iran then launched a retaliatory attack, Operation True Promise III, on Friday night.

Tension in the Middle East dampened investor risk appetite, and stock markets closed lower on the last trading day of the week.

The US was assisting in shooting down missiles targeting Israel, a US official confirmed to Anadolu.

Brent crude oil prices rose 7.2% to $74.38 per barrel by midday, then fell to $72.5, but recovered about 1% following Iran's attacks on Israel.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.79%, or 769.83 points, to close at 42,197.79.

The Nasdaq Composite dropped by 1.3%, or 255.66 points, to 19,406.83, and the S&P 500 went down by 1.13%, or 68.29 points, to 5,976.97.

The VIX Index, also known as the “fear index," rose by 15.54% to 20.82.