On February 2nd, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down by 73.14 points (0.15%) at 48,904.78 as trading commenced after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Initially, stocks plummeted, with the index seeing a nearly 600-point drop, reflecting heightened concerns over geopolitical tensions. As investors reacted to the news, there was a strong aversion to risk, resulting in a sell-off particularly in the materials and consumer goods sectors. The escalation of conflict has led to fears of inflation driven by surging oil prices, which spiked amid concerns about supply. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures rose by more than 12% during trading, reaching their highest levels since June of the previous year. The rise in oil prices is expected to impact the overall economy, with a prevailing sentiment that inflation and economic slowdown are looming threats that could further affect the stock market. Conversely, the increase in oil prices spurred gains in energy-related stocks, and some segments of the technology sector, such as semiconductor giant Nvidia, saw over a 3% increase in share prices at one point. At times during trading, the Dow even managed to exceed its previous closing value, demonstrating the volatility of the market amidst ongoing geopolitical concerns.