U.S. equity markets experienced a volatile week as investors reacted to geopolitical developments and weakening economic data.

Escalating tensions involving Iran and the United States–Israel coalition disrupted energy markets, pushing Brent crude to nearly $120 per barrel and briefly above $100 per barrel for the first time in several years as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — responsible for roughly 20% of global oil supply — was affected. At the same time, the February U.S. jobs report showed non-farm payrolls declining by about 92,000 while the unemployment rate rose to approximately 4.4%, signaling softer labor market momentum.

Markets heading into next week are expected to remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments and incoming economic data. Investors will closely monitor diplomatic signals related to the Iran conflict following attacks that disrupted energy infrastructure and shipping routes, keeping oil prices elevated and raising concerns about potential inflation pressures. Attention will also focus on the Federal Reserve’s March policy meeting, where policymakers are expected to hold interest rates steady while providing updated guidance on possible rate cuts later in 2026. Additional data releases — including February housing starts, building permits, and existing home sales — will offer further insight into housing activity under higher borrowing costs.

Given this economic backdrop, let us see how this impacts the performance of various investment strategies.