US stock markets closed the week on a mixed note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.46% on Friday, but the broader index complex finishing in negative territory for the week.
The session was defined by persistent investor anxiety over the ongoing war in the Middle East, which continued to suppress risk appetite despite the late-week rebound in blue-chip stocks.
The weekly losses cap a volatile period for Wall Street, where geopolitical uncertainty has overshadowed corporate earnings and macroeconomic data.
Investors remained cautious as the conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of de-escalation, keeping a lid on equity valuations and driving safe-haven flows.
The Dow’s Friday gain offered a brief respite, but it was insufficient to offset the selling pressure seen earlier in the week.
Oil markets remained a key focal point, with crude prices fluctuating on supply disruption fears linked to the regional conflict.