Trump's Conflicting Iran Remarks Trigger Global Market Decline

U.S. and global stock markets declined on Thursday following contradictory statements from Donald Trump regarding military action against Iran. The president initially stated he would begin bombing Iran soon, but later reversed this position, claiming he would not attack until after the midterm elections. These shifting remarks unsettled investors and caused volatility in oil prices.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 376.01 points, or 1.37%, to 27,162.68. The S&P 500 dropped 0.59% to 7,755.83, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.07% to 51,144.64. Broad selling pressure extended to markets in Asia and Europe, although indices in Canada, New Zealand, and Israel saw modest gains.

Amid the market instability, new financial disclosures for the president revealed 517 transactions. These included a $25 million purchase of Meta shares and $5 billion in SpaceX debt.