Global Sell-Off Hits Wall Street as Middle East Conflict Escalates; Tech and Defense Show Resilience

Market Indexes Open in Sharp RetreatThe U.S. stock market opened Tuesday, March 3, 2026, under significant pressure as a wave of global risk-off sentiment swept through financial centers. Following a weekend of escalating military tensions in the Middle East, major domestic indexes saw sharp declines at the opening bell. The S&P 500 (SPX) dropped 1.8% in early trading, sliding to approximately 6,784 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) plummeted 907 points, or 1.9%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Com ...