U.S. stock indices ended mixed on Monday, with technology shares continuing their decline. West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. The $100 price level represents a significant psychological threshold closely watched by traders and market participants. Oil prices surged due to ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted global markets and fueled concerns over simultaneous inflation spikes and slowing economic growth. The conflict, now in its fifth week, shows no signs of easing despite recent diplomatic efforts by Washington, with oil shipments through the critical Strait of Hormuz remaining nearly completely halted.
In U.S. markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 49.50 points, or 0.11%, to close at 45,216.14. The Nasdaq Composite fell 153.72 points, or 0.73%, to 20,794.64, while the S&P 500 declined 25.12 points, or 0.39%, to finish at 6,343.73. Notable decliners included Nvidia, down 1%, SanDisk, which fell 7%, and Micron Technology, which dropped 9.88%. Intel declined over 4%. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index closed 0.35% lower, though Nio rose 3.8% and iQiyi gained 5.8%.
European markets finished higher. Germany's DAX 30 advanced 247.94 points, or 1.11%, to 22,563.18. The UK's FTSE 100 rose 164.92 points, or 1.65%, to 10,132.27. France's CAC 40 increased 70.50 points, or 0.92%, to 7,772.45. The Euro Stoxx 50 climbed 36.30 points, or 0.66%, to 5,542.10. Spain's IBEX 35 added 142.15 points, or 0.84%, to 16,980.05, and Italy's FTSE MIB gained 446.40 points, or 1.03%, to 43,825.50.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 2.79%, and South Korea's KOSPI dropped 2.97%.
Cryptocurrencies saw gains. Bitcoin rose over 1.3% to $66,766, while Ethereum increased more than 3% to $2,034.75.
Oil prices climbed. The May contract for WTI crude rose $3.24 to settle at $102.88 per barrel, a gain of 3.25%. The May Brent crude contract increased 21 cents to close at $112.78 per barrel, up 0.19%.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of six major currencies, rose 0.36% to 100.508. By the close in New York, one euro traded at $1.1457, down from $1.1508 the previous session. One pound sterling was at $1.3186, down from $1.3266. The dollar bought 159.58 Japanese yen, down from 160.38, and 0.8000 Swiss francs, up from 0.7983. It also traded at 1.3926 Canadian dollars, up from 1.3892, and 9.5556 Swedish kronor, up from 9.4751.
In precious metals, spot gold settled at $4,511.18 per ounce, and spot silver closed at $70.091 per ounce.
On the macroeconomic front, Iran insisted it has not engaged in talks with the U.S. since the war began. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei stated on a social media platform that Iran has not negotiated with the U.S. during the 31 days of conflict. He mentioned that the U.S. has conveyed negotiation requests and a package of proposals through certain intermediaries, including Pakistan. Baghaei affirmed that Iran's position on a ceasefire remains unchanged, citing ongoing U.S. military aggression. He also referenced two previous betrayals of diplomacy within less than a year, the first being a 12-day war in June 2025 when the U.S. and Israel struck Iranian military and nuclear facilities during negotiations.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell stated that long-term inflation expectations appear well-anchored and the central bank is not rushing to respond to the energy shock. Speaking at Harvard University, Powell said inflation expectations beyond the short term seem solid. Regarding the energy impact related to the Iran conflict, he noted the specific economic effects are still unclear, but the Fed will monitor its impact on price pressures closely, given that inflation has been above the 2% target for an extended period.
New York Fed President Williams said current monetary policy is appropriately positioned to address near-term inflation risks. He indicated that the Middle East conflict could cause supply shocks, boosting inflation while dampening economic activity, with effects already emerging and signs of supply chain disruptions. While inflation uncertainty is high, energy price increases are expected to push overall inflation higher in coming months; some of this increase could reverse if the conflict ends and oil prices fall. Williams did not signal any imminent policy changes. He projected U.S. economic growth of about 2.5% this year, with inflation reaching 2.75% before declining to the 2% target next year. He also expects the unemployment rate to decrease over the next two years, presenting a more optimistic outlook than most of his Fed colleagues.
A semi-annual disclosure proposal from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been submitted to the White House for review, indicating the measure is nearing public release. According to a government website notice, the proposal was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget last Friday. After review, the commission can vote on whether to publish the proposal for public comment. A final vote would be required later for the rule to take effect, potentially months afterward. While details are not yet clear, SEC Chair Atkins recently suggested disclosure frequency could be adjusted based on company size. The SEC has been advancing this reform since last year when former President Trump called for shifting from quarterly to semi-annual reporting. Atkins pledged to accelerate the proposal, stating it could save businesses significant time and costs, though proponents of the current system argue transparency is crucial for investor decision-making.
In corporate news, Rocket Lab received regulatory approval to acquire Mynaric. The global launch services and space systems company announced it obtained clearance from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The transaction is expected to close in April. Founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck stated the approval is a key milestone that will enhance the company's support for the German and European space industry. He emphasized that laser communication is a critical technology for satellite constellations, and the company aims to achieve scaled supply, partnering with Mynaric to meet customer demand in Europe and existing markets.
BitMine increased its Ethereum holdings by over 71,000 ETH last week, bringing its total holdings to more than 4.73 million ETH. As of March 29, Eastern Time, BitMine's total holdings, including cryptocurrency, cash, and its "Moonshot Plan," amounted to $10.7 billion. The firm holds 4,732,082 ETH, representing 3.81% of Ethereum's total supply of 120.7 million coins. Its portfolio also includes 197 BTC, $200 million in Beast Industries shares, $102 million in shares of Eightco Holdings, and $961 million in unencumbered cash. As of March 29, 2026, BitMine had staked a total of 3,142,643 ETH, valued at approximately $6.3 billion based on a price of $2,005 per ETH.
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