📈 Wall Street Remains Resilient Amid Middle East Volatility

U.S. markets ended Monday with mixed results as investors "bought the dip" following coordinated U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran. Despite initial shocks, tech-driven optimism largely offset geopolitical concerns. • Overall Market Figures: - S&P 500: Up 0.04% to 6,881.60 points. - Nasdaq Composite: Gained 0.36% to 22,748.86 points. - Dow Jones: Slipped 0.15% to 48,904.78 points. • Sector Performance: - Energy: U.S. crude rose 6% to $71.23; Brent up 6.68% to $77.74 per barrel. - Defense: The Dow Jones U.S. Defense Index gained as conflicts escalated. - Tech/AI: Shares like Nvidia and the "Magnificent Seven" led a late-session recovery, fueled by ICT/BPM productivity optimism. • Impact on Sri Lanka: Volatile energy prices remain a critical watchpoint for Sri Lanka’s import costs. While U.S. tech resilience supports global ICT/BPM sentiment, surging oil prices could pressure national inflation if Brent crosses the "emotional trigger" of US$ 100 per barrel. • Corporate Highlights: AES Corp fell 17.8% following a US$ 33.4 Bn acquisition deal by a GIP-led consortium at a discount price.