Stocks – S&P Falls as U.S.-Iran Tensions Still Unsettle Risk Appetite

Investing.com – U.S. stocks closed lower Tuesday, led by a fall in energy stocks amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.

The lost 0.28%, while the slumped 0.42%. The fell 0.03%,

With fears fading that Iran would choose to engage in all-out war with the U.S., and risk detablizing oil supplies in the Middle East, traders reined in their bullish bets on oil.

Oil prices settled 1% lower, prompting a sea of red in energy stocks that offset small gains in technology and weighed on the broader market.

In energy, Halliburton (NYSE:) and Chevron (NYSE:) were among the biggest losers. But Apache (NYSE:) surged 26% after announcing – together with its joint venture partner – a significant oil discovery at a well located off the coast of Suriname.

Preliminary data evaluating the Maka Central-1 well “indicates the potential for prolific oil wells” and noted that “the size of the stratigraphic feature … suggests a substantial resource,” Apache said.

Gains in tech stocks, however, softened the blow in the broader market, largely thanks to surge in chip stocks, led by a rallies in Micron (NASDAQ:) and Western Digital (NASDAQ:).

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