Benzinga·2026-02-03 18:18Market Overview - Wall Street extended losses amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, impacting major indices [1] - The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% to 6,920, while the Nasdaq 100 fell nearly 1.5% to 25,350 [4] - The Russell 2000 declined by 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 0.5% [4] Gold and Precious Metals - SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) surged over 6%, surpassing $4,950 per ounce, marking its strongest session since November 2008 [2] - The rebound in gold prices followed a significant sell-off due to concerns over Kevin Warsh's potential appointment as Federal Reserve chair, which could lead to tighter monetary policy [3] - Silver prices rebounded sharply, climbing nearly 9% to $86 after a previous drop of more than 30% [3] Energy Sector - Crude oil prices increased by 1.8% to $63 per barrel following reports of U.S. forces shooting down an Iranian drone near a Navy aircraft carrier [4] - The U.S. government is preparing to issue a general license allowing companies to pump oil in Venezuela, indicating a potential easing of sanctions to revive the country's energy industry [6] Technology Sector - The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) dropped 4.8%, marking a fifth consecutive daily decline [5] - Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) saw a nearly 8% increase after reporting earnings that exceeded expectations and providing positive guidance [5] - Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) rose over 2% to $177 per share, reaching a two-year high [5] Digital Assets - Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) resumed its decline, falling more than 3% to around $75,000 [6]