Stock market today: Dow falls by 700 points, S&P 500 and Nasdaq sink as oil surges amid war worries

Group 1 - US stocks experienced a sell-off, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1.4% (over 700 points), and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dropping 1.4% and 1.5% respectively due to concerns over a prolonged regional conflict following new strikes on Iran [1] - The recent Israeli-led attacks have caused market volatility, with major US indices initially facing steep losses before recovering slightly as dip-buyers entered the market [2] - The ongoing conflict is expected to pressure global markets, particularly as Iran has targeted oil infrastructure across multiple countries, raising concerns about supply disruptions [3] Group 2 - Investors are closely monitoring corporate earnings, with shares in Target rising after the company reported holiday and full-year sales that met Wall Street estimates [5] - Other companies such as Ross Stores, AutoZone, and Best Buy are also scheduled to report earnings, indicating ongoing investor interest in retail performance amidst geopolitical tensions [5]