New york: US stock markets finished the week with losses, influenced by fluctuating oil prices amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a decline of 0.26%, equivalent to 119.38 points, closing at 46,558.47. The Nasdaq composite dropped 0.93%, or 206.62 points, settling at 22,105.36, while the S and P 500 decreased by 0.61%, or 40.43 points, ending at 6,632.19. The Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as the market's 'fear index,' saw a slight reduction of 0.22%, bringing it to 27.27.

According to Anadolu Agency, oil prices continued to experience sharp fluctuations on Friday, with Brent crude futures trading in the range of $95-101 and standing at $100.8 at 2020GMT. Iran's foreign minister indicated that oil prices are likely to rise further, attributing this trend to actions by the US and Israel.

The US economy showed a growth of 0.7% in the last quarter of 2025, which fell short of preliminary estimates predicting a 1.4% increase. Additionally, job openings in the US rose to 6.95 million in January, surpassing market expectations of 6.76 million. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index, which tracks the currency against six major global currencies, climbed above the 100 level for the first time since late 2025.

In Europe, stock markets also faced losses on Friday. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index fell by 0.5%, closing at 595.85 points. The UK's FTSE 100 declined by 0.43% to 10,261.15, Italy's FTSE MIB 30 dropped 0.31% to 44,316.92, and France's CAC 40 slipped 0.91% to 7,911.53. Germany's DAX 40 went down by 0.6% to 23,447.29, while Spain's IBEX 35 posted a decline of 0.47% to 17,059.30.