U.S. stocks ended Monday lower, pressured by rising oil prices amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, which fueled inflation concerns and reinforced expectations of continued tight monetary policy, while raising worries about semiconductor company valuations.

These developments come as global financial markets await U.S. inflation data and key central bank decisions.

Index

Index Reading

Change in Value

Change (%)

52,498.64

(138.37)

(0.26%)

25,873.18

(408.43)

(1.55%)

7,515.34

(60.05)

(0.79%)

25,114.25

47.16

0.19%

8,364.65

25.68

0.31%

10,498.29

0.99

0.01%

24,213.72

38.60

0.16%

67,242.73

(1,315.00)

(1.92%)

77,616.40

47.01

0.06%

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Monday down 0.26%, losing 138 points to 52,498 points.

The broader S&P 500 index fell 0.79%, or 60 points, to 7,515 points, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.55%, or 408 points, to 25,873 points.

In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600 erased early losses and stabilized at 641 points, with mixed performance across major sectors.

Britain's FTSE 100 also stabilized at 10,498 points, while Germany's DAX rose 0.19% to 25,114 points, and France's CAC 40 gained 0.31% to 8,364 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.90% to 67,242 points, and the broader Topix dropped 0.70% to 4,007 points.

Commodity

Price

Change in Value

Change (%)

83.35

7.43

9.53%

78.27

6.81

9.24%

4,001.04

(110.47)

(2.70%)

Brent crude futures for September delivery jumped 9.59%, or $7.29, to $83.30 per barrel.

U.S. NYMEX crude futures for August delivery rose 9.42%, or $6.73, to $78.14 per barrel.

Regarding gold, August delivery futures for the yellow metal fell 2.62%, or $108, to $4,005.70 per ounce.

What's behind the market moves? The surge in oil prices reignited inflation fears, bolstering expectations of higher interest rates and weighing on chip and tech stocks, while investors await inflation data and the Fed chairman's testimony before Congress this week.

Investors are watching this week for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony before Congress, as well as consumer price index data, which could determine the path of interest rates. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may also cause further volatility in energy and gold markets.