Stocks and Oil Prices Sent Conflicting Signals in April Amid Havoc of Iran War
In April, stock markets rose despite ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, with the S&P 500 posting its best monthly performance since November 2020. Oil prices and energy markets remained volatile due to disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The divergence highlighted differing investor reactions to geopolitical risks across asset classes.
- ▪The S&P 500 had its best month since November 2020 in April 2026.
- ▪Energy markets were disrupted by ongoing Middle East turmoil, particularly related to the Iran conflict.
- ▪Stocks and oil prices sent conflicting signals, reflecting divergent market responses to geopolitical instability.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
#masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }War in the Middle EastU.S.-Iran TalksIsrael-Lebanon TruceStrait of HormuzEnriched UraniumTimeline of WarAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTYou have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.Supported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENTMarkets Sent Conflicting Signals in April but Stocks Kept GainingEnergy markets remained disrupted by turmoil in the Middle East, while the S&P 500 posted its best month since November 2020.Listen · 7:04 min Share full articleS&P 500 indexHow stocks are trading in the United States window.registerInteractive && window.registerInteractive("100000010796673"); { __sveltekit_2fhkov = { base: new URL(".", location).pathname.slice(0,…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at NYT > Top Stories.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from NYT > Top Stories
