Markets Rattle as Nasdaq Sinks, Iran Tensions Flare

Big Picture

The Nasdaq recorded its worst session since April 2025 on Friday. Chip and memory stocks led the fall. Investor sentiment has shifted to "Fear" on the greed index. Rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike pushed US bond yields sharply higher. That combination — rate pressure plus geopolitical risk — drove the selloff across growth names.

Iran, Oil, and Middle East Risk

Iran launched missiles, threatening a fragile ceasefire. Oil jumped on the news. FT flagged that tanker owners who profited from the last Iran conflict are now braced for a steep drop in rates if the Strait of Hormuz reopens. OPEC+ also raised production quotas for a fourth straight month. Energy markets are pulled in two directions.

Tech in Focus

AMD pledged up to £2 billion over five years to UK AI partnerships at Imperial College London and Cambridge. The commitment underlines how US chipmakers are deepening European ties. Analyst targets for INTC were lifted to $90.25, a bright spot in an otherwise pressured chip sector.

ADBE and ACN both saw target cuts from analysts. Adobe reports Thursday, and the market is watching closely. ORCL reports Wednesday — cloud and AI spend are the key metrics to watch.

Insiders and Shorts

Silver Lake's $166M exit from DELL and $114M in insider selling at NVTS stand out this week. On the short side, WOLF saw a sharp 18.7-point cover while DAVE attracted heavy new short interest, up 8.8 points.

UAL CEO Scott Kirby said United is ready to scoop up assets from struggling rivals — a bold move with sector turbulence rising.