March’s Economy & Stock Market Update
The recent escalation in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which began in late February 2026, has brought notable volatility to financial markets. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway handling roughly 20-25% of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas—have caused sharp fluctuations in energy prices. Brent crude surged dramatically in early March, briefly approaching or exceeding $100-120 per barrel amid supply concerns and infrastructure attacks, but it has since retreated significantly, aided by emerging signals of potential de-escalation and efforts to restore stable flows. This geopolitical energy shock coincides with signs of a softening US labor market, as evidenced by the February 2026 jobs report released in early March. Nonfarm payrolls declined and prior months saw downward revisions. The
