U.S. stocks rebounded Wednesday – the fifth day of U.S.-Israel airstrike on Iran – after positive economic updates and oil prices dropped.The S&P 500 increased 0.8% in midday trading and is on track to recover most of its loss since the war with Iran began over the weekend, The Associated Press reported. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 301 points, or 0.6%, as of noon Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.3%.
The positive trends followed South Korea’s Kospi stock index plunging 12.1% for its worst day in history. Uncertainty regarding the Iran war has sent financial markets’ prices shooting up and down by the hour this week, with most following the price of oil.
Oil prices also moderated. After briefly reaching $84 per barrel, the price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, decreased to $80.88, a dip of 0.6%. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude dropped 0.6% to $74.14.
The improvement in the stock market came as one report said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance, and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since summer 2022. Also, prices for such businesses are increasing at a slower rate, at least before the war with Iran started.
Another report suggested U.S. employers in the private sector increased their hiring last month.
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