The Dow Jones Index (^DJI) was down 289.24 (-0.61%) points today, Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, closing at 47,417.27. Dow Futures (YM=F) similarly declined by 305.00 (-0.64%) points. The primary narrative driving the market was a combination of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the release of February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. The ongoing Iran conflict has caused significant volatility in energy markets, while the inflation data sparked renewed stagflation fears, leading investors to worry that the Federal Reserve may be forced to keep interest rates elevated despite a softening labor market.
Despite the broader index decline, the energy sector showed strength as crude prices remained volatile. Chevron (CVX) led the gainers, surging 2.26% to $190.49 as oil supply concerns persisted. Defensive healthcare and technology names also provided some support; UnitedHealth Group (UNH) rose 0.82% to $284.66, and Cisco Systems (CSCO) gained 0.57%. Other resilient stocks included American Express (AXP) and Amgen (AMGN), both up 0.30%. Nvidia (NVDA) managed a slight 0.24% increase to $185.16, benefiting from continued demand for AI infrastructure.
Conversely, interest-rate-sensitive and consumer-facing stocks faced heavy selling pressure. Sherwin-Williams (SHW) was the biggest laggard, falling 2.13% to $323.16, followed by Procter & Gamble (PG), which dropped 1.77%. The financial sector struggled as Visa (V) declined 1.67% and Goldman Sachs (GS) shed 1.53% to close at $820.29. Home Depot (HD) also retreated 1.61% to $351.19. Additional losses were seen in Salesforce (CRM), down 1.18%, and Walmart (WMT), which fell 1.17% to $123.65, reflecting broader concerns regarding consumer spending and high borrowing costs.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.