The major U.S. stock indexes ended **broadly lower** on Wednesday, **September 9, 2026**, as the Iran war escalated dramatically with the U.S. destroying five Iranian crude oil tankers near Kharg Island after Iran fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. Navy warship, sending crude oil above $96 and the 10-year Treasury yield to its highest close since late 2023. With the Fed meeting just one week away, Friday's **August CPI** is now the single most consequential data point of the year.
The **S&P 500** fell **0.48%** (-37.16 pts) to **7,636.36.** The **Dow** dropped **0.77%** (-405.41 pts) to **52,380.66.** The **Nasdaq** slid **0.64%** (-168.07 pts) to **26,253.34.** The **Russell 2000** was the biggest loser, tumbling **1.32%** (-39.10 pts) to **2,921.10.**
The **VIX** jumped **4.77%** to **16.47.** **Gold** was essentially flat at **$4,443.50.** **Crude Oil** surged **3.92%** to **$96.68/barrel**, with Brent briefly topping $100 for the first time since July.
