Market Volatility Intensifies: US Stocks Grapple with Oil Surge and Geopolitical Tensions Ahead of Key Inflation Data

The U.S. stock market entered Friday, March 13, 2026, in a state of heightened anxiety as investors balanced a fragile recovery in premarket futures against a backdrop of surging energy prices and escalating geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. After a brutal Thursday session that saw the major indexes tumble to their lowest levels of the year, market participants are now bracing for a critical inflation report that could dictate the Federal Reserve's next move.Premarket Activity and Futures MovementAs ...