US stocks today: Dow drops 400 points as Iran strike delays offers limited calm

Geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, directly influence crude oil prices, which in turn impact India's import bill and inflation. Global market sentiment, as reflected by US indices, often sets the tone for Indian equities, especially for FII flows and export-oriented sectors like IT.

• •Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Friday.
• •The month-long Middle East conflict is dragging on, weighing on sentiment.
• •The United States pushed back another deadline to strike Iran's energy infrastructure, offering limited calm.
• •Risk flag: Escalation of Middle East conflict
• •Risk flag: Further rise in crude oil prices