Market Brief — Sunday, March 8, 2026
BEARISHMarket PulseFear index: stressed
Markets got hammered this week as the Iran conflict sent oil above $90 and triggered the biggest weekly crude gain in futures history. The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, Nasdaq dropped 1.6%, and stagflation fears are front and center as weak retail sales collide with surging energy costs. The Fed is stuck in wait-and-see mode with rates at 3.50-3.75%, unable to cut into rising inflation or hike into a cooling economy.
Risk RadarHIGH
Strait of Hormuz near-total shutdown with oil above $90 and potential for $150
Stagflation risk rising as Fed is boxed in at 3.50-3.75% with no good options
Tariff drag compounding energy shock, squeezing consumers from both sides
Geopolitical escalation risk if Iran conflict broadens to other Gulf states
If you read nothing else
The Iran-Strait of Hormuz crisis is the only story that matters right now. Oil's 35% weekly spike is a tax on every consumer and company, and until there's clarity on shipping lanes reopening, expect volatility to stay elevated across all asset classes.