That particular incident Holds a few takeaways for traders trying to predict how Iran’s response will impact the US stock market.
The most important is timing. The US helped overthrow Iran’s democratically elected government in 2020; the hostage crisis took place in 2019. Several other US actions fueled Iranian hostility toward the US, but it’s worth noting that in this case, the retaliation came more than two decades later.
Oil prices have historically spiked during Middle East crisis events. | Source:CNBC
Historically, financial markets recover swiftly after news of rising tension in the Middle East.CNBC analyzed the market’s reactionto************************************************************************************** crises spanning 38 years and found that while stocks initially drop, they make their way higher in the following three months.
The shock the US stock market received on Fridaywill likely wear off in the coming days if Iranian officials bide their time. Further conflict, if confined to the Middle East, is likely to have a similar impact on US financial markets.
In the coming weeks, Iran could start to take significant steps toward creating weapons-grade uranium. It could also kick inspectors out of its facilities and abandon its other nuclear agreements.
Either of those actions would represent a dangerous step toward nuclear weapons, but they don ‘t necessarily make Iran immediately dangerous as a nuclear threat.
Still, that kind of uncertainty would take a toll on the US stock market – at least temporarily . Consequently, it could offer an attractive entry point for investors.
There’s also a chance Iran could target oil fields in southern Iraq, a move that would significantly reduce OPEC’s capacity because Iraq is the organization’s second-largest producer. According to Eurasia Group analyst Henry Rome, that scenario couldsend oil prices above $ (per barrel) .
For oil stocks, movement is dependent on how sensitive the firm is to crude prices. Big producers likeChevron (NYSE: CVX) and (Exxon) ***************************************** (NYSE: XOM) won’t see the same boost as smaller producers because of their diversified operations. Refiners will see a drop as crude prices rise.
************** (**************************************************************************** Oil stocks spiked Friday on news of the Iran strike. | Source:Yahoo Finance
According to RBC Capital Markets’ Scott Hanold, traders who want to benefit from rising crude prices but keep out of the wild swings will opt for large-cap oil producers or those with limited or no exposure to the Middle East like (Devon Energy) ****************************************** (NYSE: DVN) or EOG Resources ****************************** ((NYSE: EOG)
Healthcare, Social Media and Financial Stocks Under Cybersecurity Threat
This weekend, Iranian hackers replaced a government websitewith threats of revenge for Soleimani’s killing .
While the incident did very lit tle damage since it impacted the little-known Federal Depository Library Program, it could be the start of Iranian hackers targeting US websites. While the government makes for an obvious target, corporations are likely to be under threat as well.
While Iran has the ability to impact important infrastructure within the US , a serious attack is unlikely because of the repercussions.
With that in mind, Iran’s cyberattacks still add a layer of uncertainty to US financial markets. According to cybersecurity firm Check Point,the industries most likely to be targetedare healthcare, financial services, and social media because of their potential to create compelling headlines.
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