On February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a joint air and naval campaign against Iran’s military, Revolutionary Guard, and nuclear sites.

In the opening hours, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials were killed.

Now in its seventh day, U.S. Central Command reports thousands of targets destroyed, including two dozen naval vessels and hundreds of ballistic missiles. More than 50,000 American troops, 200 fighter aircraft, and two carrier groups are engaged.

Before the escalation, WTI crude traded near $67 and Brent around $72.50. During the first week, the S&P 500 fell 2% and the Dow 3% as investors weighed the Hormuz blockade and rising energy risks.

As of March 9, WTI trades at $103.10 and Brent at $107.75, up roughly 54% and 49% since the operation began. Despite sharp swings, trading remains orderly as markets adjust to the surge from pre-conflict levels.

Your Weekly Market Compass – February 27, 2026

Markets spent the week ending February 27 walking a narrow ridge between resilient growth and rising geopolitical risk, with U.S. and global equities modestly weaker while earlier‑year gains stayed intact. As of Friday’s close, large‑cap U.S. stocks remained positive year‑to‑date on a total‑return basis, but most of the action for the week was about repricing risk rather than adding to gains. The weekend exchange of attacks involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has since pushed oil and volatility higher into Monday’s open, underscoring how geopolitical “shocks” can arrive abruptly even when economic data appear steady. Early trading on March 2 shows a familiar flight‑to‑quality pattern—Treasury yields a bit lower, energy and defense shares firmer, and the VIX edging up from its 19.9 close on Friday—as investors reassess near‑term risk without abandoning their 2026 roadmap.

A Week Defined by Extremes

The week ending February 6, 2026, was defined by a dramatic eleventh-hour rescue of the headline averages. A powerful Friday rebound—marking the S&P 500’s best single-day performance since May—successfully pulled the index back from the brink of a deep weekly loss and helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average make history by closing above 50,000 for the first time.
Yet these headline recoveries could not entirely disguise a punishing week for technology, where software names saw over a trillion dollars in market value evaporate amid the most significant volatility since the early 2025 “DeepSeek” scare. With labor signals flashing warning signs not seen since 2020, the market is navigating a growing tension between long-term AI optimism and the staggering real-world cost of infrastructure.

U.S. Stocks: S&P 500 Breaking Through 7,000—Then Pullback on Policy Uncertainty

The week ending January 30, 2026 delivered a milestone and a reality check in equal measure. Major indices pushed to record highs early in the week before giving back gains as President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair created a wave of uncertainty across financial markets.

Market Recap & Outlook: Your Weekly Market Compass – January 23, 2026 What happened this week, and what it means for your portfolio as earnings season approaches and market momentum remains mixed.

U.S. Stocks: Modest Gains Amid Approaching Earnings Season The week ending January 23, 2026 delivered a mixed performance across major indices as investors weighed resilient economic data against lingering inflation concerns and the upcoming start of earnings season. Equities showed modest advances in some areas, with the S&P 500 nearing recent highs, though gains were tempered by a softer finish on Friday.