The three major U.S. stock indices all declined, and international oil prices surged!

On March 12, local time, European stocks fell broadly. The UK FTSE 100 index, the France CAC index, and the Germany DAX index all declined. All three major US stock indexes plunged; the Dow Jones Industrial Index, the Nasdaq index, and the S&P 500 index all fell by more than 1%. Large-cap technology stocks fell across the board, with Tesla down by more than 3%.

In commodities, spot gold prices fell by more than 1%, spot silver prices fell by more than 2%, and international oil prices rose sharply.

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, on March 12, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei issued a statement saying Iran would not give up on revenge, would continue to use the tactic of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, and advised neighboring countries in the region to close US military bases as soon as possible.

All three major US stock indexes plunged

On March 12, local time, Europe’s major stock indexes fell across the board. By the close, the UK FTSE 100 index was down 0.47%, the France CAC40 index was down 0.71%, and the Germany DAX index was down 0.21%.

All three major US stock indexes fell across the board. By the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Index, the Nasdaq index, and the S&P 500 index fell 1.56%, 1.78%, and 1.52%, respectively.

Large-cap technology stocks fell across the board. The US technology “seven giants” index fell 1.74%; Microsoft fell 0.73%; Amazon fell 1.47%; and Nvidia fell 1.54%.

Bank stocks fell across the board. JPMorgan Chase fell by more than 1%, while Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley fell by more than 4%.

Semiconductor stocks fell across the board. Intel fell by more than 5%, TSMC fell by 5%, and Advanced Micro Devices and Micron Technology fell by more than 3%.

Energy stocks mostly rose. Exxon Mobil rose by more than 1%; Chevron and ConocoPhillips rose by more than 2%; and Occidental Petroleum rose by more than 5%.

The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index fell 1.02%; Thunder (Xunlei) rose by more than 8%; and JinkoSolar, NIO, and others rose by more than 1%. Meanwhile, Vipshop, Alibaba, TAL Education, and others fell by more than 1%.

The US Department of Labor’s latest data showed that in the US, the number of people filing for initial unemployment benefits last week was 213k, compared with expectations of 215k. The prior figure of 213k was revised to 214k; the four-week moving average was 212k, compared with the prior figure of 215.75k revised to 216k. For the week ending February 28, the number of people continuing to claim unemployment benefits was 1.85 million, compared with expectations of 1.85 million. The prior figure of 213k was revised to 215k.

International oil prices surged sharply

In the commodities market, as of the close on March 12, spot London gold fell 1.90% to $5,077.940 per ounce; COMEX gold futures fell 1.83% to $5,084.1 per ounce. Spot London silver fell 2.27% to $83.778 per ounce, and COMEX silver futures fell 1.85%.

According to Xinhua News Agency, as of the close on March 12, New York Mercantile Exchange light sweet crude oil futures for April delivery rose by $8.48 to $95.73 per barrel, a gain of 9.72%. The London Brent crude oil futures for May delivery rose by $8.48 to $100.46 per barrel, a gain of 9.22%.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister:

Allow ships from some countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

According to a report by Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency, on March 12, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Lavanchi said in an interview with the media that Iran allows ships from some countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lavanchi said that some countries had discussed navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, and Iran cooperated with them. However, countries that participate in attacks on Iran do not enjoy the “right of safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lavanchi also said that Iran has not laid mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli strikes hit Beirut and southern Lebanon

This round of conflict has left 687 people dead in Lebanon

According to Xinhua News Agency, on March 12, the Israeli military said it launched another round of strikes on targets related to Hezbollah located in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, and in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said that as of early March, 687 people on the Lebanese side have died from Israeli attacks.

The Israeli military had previously issued warnings instructing residents in parts of Beirut to evacuate before airstrikes. It is understood that the relevant areas have branches of “charitable lending” alliance financial institutions. The Israeli military alleged that the institution is linked to Lebanese Hezbollah.

On the same day, the Israeli Chief of the General Staff, Zamil, said that commanders of Iranian militia organizations and their deputies who “fight alongside” Hezbollah were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon the day before. He also said that actions against Lebanese Hezbollah “will not end anytime soon,” and that the Israeli military will continue to increase its military forces.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said that since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have caused 687 deaths and 1,774 injuries.

On the same day, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najwa F. Salam said the government is working to push for a ceasefire and ensure that displaced people can safely return home.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran, and Iran retaliated against targets including Israel and US military bases in the Middle East. As a key regional ally of Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah began firing rocket missiles toward northern Israel on the evening of the 2nd. Israel then launched intense airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon and the capital Beirut, and carried out ground operations in southern Lebanon.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says:

It carried out an attack on the US Fifth Fleet base

According to Xinhua News Agency, on March 12, Iran’s Islamic Morning News Agency reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on the day that the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a fierce attack on the US Navy Fifth Fleet base located in Bahrain.

In a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, it said that early on the day, the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out actions in two rounds and launched fierce strikes using missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against the US Navy Fifth Fleet base in Salman Port, Bahrain. The base’s anti-drone system, unmanned surface vessel center, logistics equipment center, fuel storage facilities, and areas where US soldiers gathered were all hit with “precision strikes.”