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Nasdaq and S&P 500 open lower as U.S.-Iran tensions lift oil

Nasdaq and S&P 500 open lower as U.S.-Iran tensions lift oil

Oil surged and risk assets weakened after escalating U.S.-Iran tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, while bitcoin showed resilience above $62,000 and U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs posted net inflows.

BTC

Fact Check
The Reuters market wrap confirms Nasdaq (-1.55%) and S&P 500 (-0.79%) fell on July 13, 2026, that chip stocks sold off heavily, that crude surged (settled +9.4%), and that inflation and further Fed rate-hike concerns emerged — all matching the claim. The Bitcoin.com report confirms Bitcoin fell ~3% amid the same Iran conflict and energy inflation fears. The only discrepancy is directional on the dollar: the Reuters currency piece shows the dollar was BOOSTED as a safe haven, whereas the claim groups the dollar among assets that were 'pressured.' This minor framing error slightly lowers the probability but the core, headline-level claim (markets lower, oil up, chips and Bitcoin down, inflation concerns) is well corroborated by primary reporting.
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Summary

U.S. stocks opened mixed on Monday as escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices sharply higher and weighed on risk sentiment, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling while the Dow edged up. Markets were further rattled after President Donald Trump said he would reinstate a blockade on Iranian shipping through the strait, a critical global oil chokepoint. Higher energy prices pressured chip stocks, supported the dollar and revived concerns that inflation could remain elevated. Bitcoin, however, showed signs of stabilizing despite the broader risk-off move. CoinDesk reported the token is down 28% this year, but said months of panic selling may be nearing an end after bitcoin held above $62,000 over the weekend despite escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and a surge in oil prices. U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs also recorded $197 million of net inflows last week, ending eight straight weeks of outflows.

Terms & Concepts
  • Strait of Hormuz: A strategic oil shipping chokepoint where disruption can quickly affect energy prices and global market sentiment.
  • U.S. Dollar Index: A gauge of the dollar’s value against a basket of major currencies.
  • spot bitcoin ETFs: Exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin directly, giving investors market exposure through traditional stock exchanges.