On April 28, 2026, US stocks opened with broad-based declines across major indices. According to Barron’s, the Nasdaq Composite is set to open lower, reflecting investor concerns about the outlook for US-Iran peace negotiations.

The core driver of this market volatility is the escalating US-Iran tensions. CBS News reported that international crude oil prices have surged above $107 per barrel, reaching multi-month highs. Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been met with a cool reception from the United States, and both sides appear locked in a costly stalemate.

The Sunday Guardian analyzed that in trading on April 27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had already fallen, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged slightly higher. However, as oil prices continued to climb and geopolitical risks intensified, market sentiment shifted sharply negative on the 28th.

Notably, gold and silver prices continued to rise driven by geopolitical risk, while Bitcoin retreated to around $79,000. As a traditional safe-haven asset, gold’s advance reflects investor concerns about intensifying uncertainty.

Wall Street analysts pointed out that the market currently faces triple pressure: first, rising oil prices are pushing up inflation expectations, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions; second, uncertainty in the US-Iran situation increases the risk of global supply chain disruptions; and third, technology stocks are facing a valuation reassessment amid unclear IPO prospects for AI companies such as OpenAI.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump is skeptical of Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, believing the plan does not adequately address nuclear issues. This stance has made the peace outlook more complicated, further intensifying the market’s risk-off sentiment.

Investors are now closely watching upcoming economic data releases and public remarks from Federal Reserve officials this week for more clues on policy direction.

Source: Barron’s, CBS News, The Sunday Guardian