The New York stock market opened mixed as tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East resurfaced.
As of 9:59 a.m. on the 4th (local time), on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Dow Jones Industrial Average, focused on blue chips, fell 130.05 points (0.38%) from the previous trading day to 49,341.10.
The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 index, centered on large-cap stocks, was down 0.53 points (0.01%) from the previous trading day at 7,229.59, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was up 11.84 points (0.05%) at 25,126.29.
This is seen as a pullback in investor sentiment as tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated in the Strait of Hormuz.
A day had not even passed since U.S. President Donald Trump released that the U.S. Navy would launch "Project Freedom" (Liberation Project) to rescue stranded ships in the Strait of Hormuz when reports emerged that Iran attacked a U.S. warship.
Iranian outlet Fars News Agency reported that a U.S. warship ignored Iran's warning and attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz before being hit by two missiles and forced to turn back.
U.S. Central Command immediately dismissed this, saying no vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz.
It also said U.S. forces are conducting operations in the Arabian Gulf to support Project Freedom, and that two merchant ships flying the U.S. flag had passed through the Strait of Hormuz and were sailing safely.
Accordingly, international oil prices rose again. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for June delivery rose 0.46% from the previous session to $102.41 per barrel.