{"id":10086,"date":"2026-03-21T17:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/stocks-drop-oil-jumps-war\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T23:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T19:18:28","slug":"stocks-drop-oil-jumps-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/stocks-drop-oil-jumps-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Market Volatility Amid Mideast Conflict: What Investors and Businesses in Oman Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitv3sogw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 auto;box-sizing:border-box}\r\n.hitv3soga{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,system-ui,sans-serif;position:relative;overflow:hidden;cursor:pointer;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#111118 0%,#080808 100%);border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border-radius:14px;gap:20px;padding:20px 40px;transition:border-color .2s}\r\n.hitv3soga:hover{border-color:#dc262688}\r\n.hitv3sogg1{position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 0%,rgba(220,38,38,0.35),transparent 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.hitv3sogbl{display:flex;align-self:center;text-align:left}\r\n  .hitv3sogbtn{width:100%;justify-content:center;padding:12px 20px}\r\n}\r\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Wide: >= 600px (leaderboard style) \u2500\u2500 *\/\r\n@container (min-width:600px){\r\n  .hitv3soga{min-height:90px}\r\n}\r\n<\/style><!-- HiT Land Banner \u2014 Container Query Responsive -->\r\n<div class=\"hitv3sogw\">\r\n<a class=\"hitv3soga\" href=\"https:\/\/hit.land\/services\/web-app-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-fadein 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0s;\">\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogg1\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-glow 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogg2\"><\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"hitv3soggl\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-shimmer 3s ease-in-out infinite;\"><\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogc\">\r\n    \r\n    <div style=\"display:inline-flex;align-self:flex-start;align-items:center;gap:6px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitv3sog-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OMAN OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogh\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Websites For <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Omani Businesses.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogs\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Empower your brand with custom digital solutions designed for high conversion and market dominance.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbl\"><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Responsive designs built for growth<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Fast loading with smart automation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitv3sogbtn\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Build Your Free Website <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Stocks fell sharply while oil prices surged on Friday, concluding a volatile week marked by attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure that unsettled global markets and raised fears of a worldwide economic slowdown.<\/p>\n<p>Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed 3.3 percent to nearly $112.19 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the primary US crude contract, increased 2.3 percent to above $98 per barrel.<\/p>\n<p>Angelo Kourkafas of Edward Jones highlighted that the week&#8217;s assaults on energy facilities intensified market anxieties. \u201cWhat really matters more is not how high prices are now, but how long prices may stay high, and I think it&#8217;s that uncertainty that is triggering the volatility,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>Investors were already on edge due to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for about 20 percent of the world\u2019s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. <\/p>\n<p>On Friday morning, drone strikes ignited a fire at Kuwait\u2019s Mina Al Ahmadi oil refinery. Additionally, Iranian missile attacks on Qatar\u2019s massive Ras Laffan natural gas complex on Thursday inflicted \u201cextensive damage,\u201d according to Qatar\u2019s state energy company. The damage could cost up to $20 billion in annual revenue losses and may require five years for full repairs.<\/p>\n<p>Kourkafas noted the prevailing uncertainty ahead of the weekend: \u201cInvestors are unsurprisingly a bit nervous about what may happen; of course, nobody knows how it\u2019s going to play out.\u201d He also pointed to rising government bond yields as an indicator of heightened inflation concerns.<\/p>\n<p>All three major US stock indices closed lower Friday, with the S&#038;P 500 dropping 1.5 percent.<\/p>\n<p>US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller expressed inflation worries amid the ongoing conflict. While previously supporting interest rate cuts due to labor market issues, Waller recently revised his stance on easing pace because of inflation risks. \u201cSince the Strait of Hormuz was closed, this is looking like it\u2019s going to be a much more protracted conflict, and oil prices are going to stay high for a longer time,\u201d he stated. \u201cSo that suggested inflation was more of a concern than I was putting it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Europe, markets also ended lower. London\u2019s FTSE 100 dipped below the 10,000 mark for the first time since early January, pressured by mounting bond market concerns.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, US markets had been boosted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s remarks suggesting the war could conclude sooner than anticipated. However, on Friday, Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei maintained a defiant stance, declaring that Iranians had dealt a \u201cdizzying blow\u201d to their adversaries.<\/p>\n<p>Also on Friday, US President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of a ceasefire with Iran, asserting that the US holds the advantage in the three-week conflict. \u201cI don\u2019t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don\u2019t do a ceasefire when you\u2019re literally obliterating the other side,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House. \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n<p><style>\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitl8gakw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 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solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitl8gak-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakh\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Your Website <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Should Sell.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gaks\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Custom-built websites with smart automation & AI-powered features.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbl\"><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>SEO-optimized & lightning fast<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Smart features built for your business<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitl8gakbtn\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Get Free Consultation <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman&#8217;s Market<\/p>\n<p>The recent turmoil in Gulf energy infrastructure has <strong>pushed oil prices higher<\/strong>, signaling sustained volatility and inflation risks that could impact Omani businesses reliant on stable energy supplies and costs. For investors and entrepreneurs, this <strong>heightened geopolitical risk presents both a cautionary environment and opportunities<\/strong> in sectors tied to energy, security, and strategic supply chain diversification. Smart players should consider <strong>hedging against prolonged oil price spikes and exploring investments in resilience and alternative energy solutions<\/strong> to navigate this uncertain landscape.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stocks fell as oil prices surged after attacks on Gulf energy sites sparked fears of a global slowdown. Brent crude hit $112.19\/barrel, WTI over $98. Damage to Qatar\u2019s gas complex may cost $20B annually. Markets worry about inflation and conflict\u2019s longevity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":10087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[4214,815,328],"class_list":["post-10086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-energy-infrastructure-attacks","tag-global-markets","tag-oil-prices"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3328059.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10088,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086\/revisions\/10088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}