Wall Street holds near record highs as oil swings on Iran tensions

Wall Street’s main indexes traded with little change on Monday, staying near record highs, while oil prices kept swinging over tensions in the Gulf and uncertainty about Iran’s demands.

Markets in balance

Investors alternated between optimism over solid corporate earnings and caution ahead of pending inflation data and moves by the Federal Reserve. The result: a slow-moving market, without the momentum of previous weeks but also without surprises.

The energy factor

Oil remains the most volatile variable of the day. The ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic tensions with Tehran keep barrel prices under upward pressure, with direct effects on global transport and energy costs.

Why it matters

For the Dominican economy, the price of oil is a direct thermometer: it determines fuel costs and, with them, part of local inflation. If the Gulf tensions drag on, the effects will reach gas stations and the basic basket in the coming weeks.