Global markets took a hit on Thursday, March 26, 2026, as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions sent oil prices soaring and investors fleeing from equities, cryptocurrencies, and even gold. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1.01% to close at 45,960.11, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.74% to 6,477.16.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) surged to 27.44, a level that indicates traders are pricing in further turbulence. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil jumped 2.2% to approximately $92.16 per barrel, while Brent crude reached the $100 line.
Gold and silver fell sharply, with gold dropping around 3% to approximately $4,392 per ounce and silver declining between 4-6% to about $68.35 per ounce.
Bitcoin, however, remained relatively stable near $69,000, according to analysts who attribute this stability to spot ETF inflows and capital leaving Persian Gulf countries via crypto purchases.