ISTANBUL

US stock markets closed week with losses as oil prices saw sharp fluctuations amid ongoing tension in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.26%, or 119.38 points, to close at 46,558.47.

The Nasdaq composite declined 0.93%, or 206.62 points, to 22,105.36, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.61%, or 40.43 points, to 6,632.19.

The Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as the market’s “fear index,” dropped 0.22% to 27.27.

On Friday, oil prices continue sharp fluctuations with Brent crude futures were trading between $95-101, as it stands at $100.8 as of 2020GMT.

Oil prices are likely to continue rising, Iran’s foreign minister said Friday, putting the blame for this development on the US and Israel.

The US economy has expanded by 0.7% in the last quarter of 2025, while the preliminary estimates had pointed to a 1.4% growth.

The number of job openings in the US rose to 6.95 million in January, exceeding market expectations of 6.76 million.

The US Dollar Index, which measures the currency against six major global currencies, climbed above the 100 level for the first time since late 2025.

- European stocks

The stock markets in Europe also saw losses on Friday, with the pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index falling 0.5% to close at 595.85 points.

The UK’s FTSE 100 declined 0.43% to 10,261.15, Italy’s FTSE MIB 30 dropped 0.31% to 44,316.92 and France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.91% to 7,911.53.

Germany’s DAX 40 went down 0.6% to 23,447.29, while Spain’s IBEX 35 posted a decline of 0.47% to 17,059.30.