The seismically charged geopolitical landscape, convulsed by Israel's preemptive strike against Iranian assets, triggered a maelstrom in global markets on Friday, as crude oil futures spiked parabolically amid anxieties of systemic disruption to the hydrocarbon supply chain and broader macroeconomic stability, precipitating a synchronized plunge in bellwether indices – the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq composite all hemorrhaging value – while U.S. crude surged 7.3% to $72.98 per barrel; although seasoned analysts posited a potential retracement contingent upon de-escalation, Wall Street remained riveted, with fuel-intensive and travel-sensitive equities, exemplified by Carnival and United Airlines, experiencing vertiginous declines, counterbalanced by ascendant performance in U.S. energy producers, defense sector stalwarts, and the haven asset of gold, all juxtaposed against a backdrop of stubbornly persistent inflation, albeit shadowed by the specter of Trump-era tariff policies potentially reigniting inflationary pressures.