Key keywords: stock market today, Nasdaq, S&P 500, oil prices, Mideast geopolitical conflict, live market updates, US equities, energy market volatility, Fed monetary policy. The latest U.S. trading session saw major stock benchmarks eke out modest gains on Monday, as investors balanced better-than-expected early corporate earnings results against growing unease over escalating tensions in the Middle East that threaten to roil global energy supplies. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed 0.21% higher, lifted by mild gains in mega-cap tech leaders including Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, which rallied ahead of their quarterly earnings reports due later this month. The S&P 500 edged up 0.12%, with gains concentrated in the energy and utilities sectors, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished roughly flat, down just 0.03% as declines in healthcare and consumer staples stocks offset gains in industrial names. The biggest focus for market participants remains oil price movements, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of de-escalating, with Iranian officials warning of potential broader regional involvement if Israeli ground operations in Gaza expand. As of the close of trading, Brent crude futures rose 1.8% to $87.45 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 2.1% to $83.14 per barrel. Analysts note that the Middle East accounts for nearly 30% of global crude oil exports, so any disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, or production cuts from major regional producers, could push oil prices above $100 per barrel in a matter of weeks. The energy sector was the top performer in the S&P 500 on the day, rising 1.3% as investors piled into oil and gas stocks to hedge against potential supply shocks. Meanwhile, investors are also keeping a close eye on upcoming U.S. inflation data due later this week, which will play a key role in shaping the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions at its June meeting. Fed officials have repeatedly noted in recent public remarks that persistent energy price increases could re-accelerate inflation, forcing the central bank to hold interest rates higher for longer, or even deliver an additional 25 basis point rate hike this year. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield held steady at 4.62% on Monday, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid the geopolitical uncertainty, while gold prices rose 0.7% to $1,982 per ounce. Market strategists warn that the current muted volatility in equity markets may not last, as investors have so far priced in only a limited risk of broader regional conflict in the Middle East. If tensions spread to involve major oil-producing nations, the S&P 500 could see a 5% to 8% correction in the short term, as higher energy costs squeeze corporate profit margins and consumer spending.