The Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its losing streak on the New York Stock Exchange on the 15th, dropping 328 points to close at 52,093. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (technology-focused stock index) fell 204.84 points to 25,981.57. Elevated crude oil prices amid uncertainty over the Middle East, together with U.S. long-term interest rates continuing to rise above 5%, weighed on investor sentiment. Markets are increasingly concerned that higher energy costs could revive inflation, limiting the Federal Reserve's scope for monetary easing, while rising rates make equity valuations look more stretched. Crude prices and U.S. interest rates are expected to remain the main factors influencing efforts to restore momentum in equities.