Daily Market Recap (March 2nd 2026)

These sources report on a period of intense global instability in early 2026, primarily driven by a military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The reports detail how surging oil prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted international shipping and caused major airline cancellations. Financial markets experienced significant volatility, with investors seeking safety in gold and defense stocks while mortgage rates climbed following a rise in Treasury yields. Additionally, the text covers corporate developments, such as Nvidia's $4 billion investment in photonics and the blacklisting of Anthropic by the Trump administration due to disagreements over military AI use. Other domestic updates include a legal reprieve for the SAVE student loan plan and a notable increase in stock market participation among lower-income Americans since 2020.