VOO is trading 1.1% down today as escalating Middle East tensions and surging oil prices weigh on broader U.S. stock markets.
- Brent crude surged above $113 per barrel following President Trump's 8:00 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, heightening fears of U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
- Rising energy costs are fueling inflation concerns and the potential for Fed rate hikes, while market caution grows as ceasefire hopes fade.
- Trading remains volatile with no major economic data scheduled for release today to provide a counter-narrative to geopolitical risks.