In The News

CBS News: Stocks sink as oil prices sizzle and U.S. hiring fizzles

Published on March 6, 2026

Stocks fell on Friday, closing out a week of turbulence on Wall Street marked by signs that the U.S. labor market is weakening and mounting concerns about the economic impact of the war in Iran.

The S&P 500 sank 91 points, or 1.3%, to close at 6,740, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 489 points, or 1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 1.1%. The declines followed a steep drop on Thursday, with the Dow losing 785 points, or 1.6%, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively.

The S&P 500 fell 1.2% for the week, and the Dow shed 2.7%.

Big miss

The downturn Friday came after the release of the February employment report, which showed employers shed 92,000 jobs in February, undershooting economists’ forecasts of 60,000 payroll gains.

“You can’t sugarcoat this report,” said Brian Jacobsen, Chief Economic Strategist at Annex Wealth Management. “A negative payrolls number combined with a big jump in oil prices will have traders worrying about stagflation risks.”

Analysts said a nurses’ strike last month, which drove down health care gains, and harsh winter weather may have distorted the labor data. Still, the weak employment numbers injected more uncertainty into the economy at a time when investors are already fretting over the economic fallout of the Iran war.

“If the labor market keeps losing steam, it becomes a more delicate backdrop — especially with geopolitical uncertainty on the rise and energy prices capable of acting as an added tax at the gas pump,” eToro U.S. investment analyst Bret Kenwell said in an email.

Oil prices jump

The price of oil continued to surge on Friday amid growing concerns that the Iran war will disrupt global crude supplies. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, on Friday surged above $90 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, reached $92.32, the highest in nearly two years.

Ryan McKay, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, said in a report that the price of Brent crude could top $100 a barrel by next week if oil tankers remain unable to traverse the Strait of Hormuz.

If prices break above that threshold and remain elevated for several months, it could cause a material increase in inflation and spur additional job losses, Mark Luschini, chief investment officer at Janney Montgomery Scott, told CBS News.

“If [the war] metastasized into something that drew in other countries, particularly adversaries like Russia and China, in a more overt and kinetic fashion, that would obviously exaggerate worries.”

At the same time, Luschini and other Wall Street analysts noted investors’ tendency to look through geopolitical conflicts, which often supports financial markets.

“For equities, the risks are plainly growing, but the U.S. stock market has proven remarkably resilient, and we think that bodes well,” James Reilly, senior market strategist for Capital Economics, told clients in a research note. “For example, if we step back from today’s data — which was plainly negative but, in our view, not indicative of major labour market weakness — U.S. equities had largely shrugged off surging oil prices this week.”

Sticky situation for the Fed

Friday’s weak employment report and inflationary pressure from the Iran war is likely to complicate the Federal Reserve’s decision-making on interest rates.

Lowering rates, as President Trump has repeatedly called for, could bolster job and broader economic growth. But reducing borrowing costs when the economy remains near full employment and energy costs are spiking could fuel inflation, which remains above the Fed’s 2% annual target.

The Fed is scheduled to announce its next rate on Feb. 18.

 

 

Original article: Stocks sink as oil prices sizzle and U.S. hiring fizzles – CBS News

Read More

Axiom | Vol 511

Axiom | Vol 511

From Correction Territory & Back In 11 Days | Passion Assets & Legacy: Preserving the Stories Behind Your Treasures – BROOKFIELD | What Is Direct Indexing? | Turning Your Treasures (and Pets!) into Lasting Legacies – Don’t Let Love Become a Burden – Listen To Wealthyist | Growth: Turn Up the Volume? Inflation: The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall Policy: Rallying Around a Pause Looking Ahead: Too Soon? | Understand Your WRS Pension Potential

read more
Axiom | Vol 511

Axiom | Vol 511

From Correction Territory & Back In 11 Days | Passion Assets & Legacy: Preserving the Stories Behind Your Treasures – BROOKFIELD | Smart Habits of Rich Retirees | Your Wealth Roadmap: Checklists for Every Life Stage – From First Paycheck to Enduring Legacy | What Is Direct Indexing? | Turning Your Treasures (and Pets!) into Lasting Legacies – Don’t Let Love Become a Burden – Listen To Wealthyist | Understand Your WRS Pension Potential

read more
What Is Direct Indexing?

What Is Direct Indexing?

Direct indexing is an investment approach that allows individuals to directly own the underlying stocks of an index rather than investing through a pooled fund. This structure allows for a higher level of customization, such as excluding specific companies or industries and tailoring the portfolio to personal goals or values. It also supports tax efficient, and gives investors more control over after tax outcomes.

read more
Smart Habits of Rich Retirees

Smart Habits of Rich Retirees

Many wealthy retirees don’t just stop working, they shift their focus to protecting what they’ve built while enjoying life. Their success often comes from blending smart financial habits with smart lifestyle choices rather than simply chasing higher returns. The result is greater flexibility, confidence and sometimes other positives in retirement. Annex Wealth Management’s Mike Dodge, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU® is here to discuss.

read more

Unleash the Power of What's Next

After decades of planning and preparation, Annex Wealth Management has established a way of doing business that promises the same warm, personal, one-on-one interaction to all clients. Using leading-edge technology, analytics and review, our staff of skilled professionals constantly seeks to confidently deliver an elite, full-service wealth management experience.

Sign Up For The Axiom®

A Look At What’s Happening
From Annex Wealth Management

Name