Stock markets in the Middle East ended lower on Thursday with uncertainty looming after the U.S. decided to relocate personnel from the region ahead of nuclear talks with Iran.

U.S. equities ended the week in the red as escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran unsettled markets. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell 1.1%, the Dow dropped 770 points (1.8%), and the Nasdaq slid 1.

If prices go up, Fed officials may be inclined to raise its benchmark rate, raising borrowing costs for businesses and consumers. That could lead to businesses to cut jobs, particularly in the high-growth tech sector, and force Americans to pull back on spending, which drives more than 70% of economic activity in the U.S.

Oil prices surged, stocks dropped and investors flocked to safe havens like gold on Friday after tensions between Israel and Iran escalated, stoking concerns of a broader conflict in the region.

Israel and Iran are on the brink of war once again! But why did this geopolitical risk push the Indian stock market into a frenzy of selling on Friday? And will the trend continue next week?

A look into the reasons behind the sharp decline in Sensex and Nifty, focusing on U.S.-China trade tensions and Middle East geopolitical issues.

The Dow dropped more than 750 points Friday as investors fret over the risk of a widening war in the Middle East.

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A further escalation in Iranian-Israeli tensions could take oil prices above $80 and would mean more upside for the dollar.

The Nifty opened 415 points lower below the 24,500 mark, while the Sensex saw a drop of over 1,200 points in the early minutes of trading. The Midcap index has also declined by a similar quantum, while the Smallcap index is down by 400 points at the start of trade.