U.S. Stocks finished mixed on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, as investors weighed conflicting signals about the trajectory of the conflict in the Middle East and reacted to corporate news. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.07 percent at 47,706.51 points, after briefly rising by one percent during the trading session. The S&P 500 fell 0.21 percent to 6,781.48 points, whereas the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.01 percent to 22,697.10.
Earlier in the week, an announcement from President Donald Trump that the war in the Middle East was “as good as over” had significantly lowered oil prices and boosted the stock market. However, market skepticism remains regarding a swift resolution to the conflict.
Adding to the uncertainty, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright initially stated on X, the social media platform, that the U.S. Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. This post was quickly deleted, and the White House later officially denied the report, according to Fox News. The initial statement had briefly spurred optimism about the security of vital energy shipments through the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has thinned sharply following attacks on tankers and rising war-risk insurance costs, putting pressure on global energy markets. According to MarineTraffic data analyzed by Agence France-Presse, only nine oil tankers, cargo ships, and container ships have crossed the strait since Monday, following three attacks over the weekend. Reuters reported that Wright had also said the U.S. Navy would escort ships “as soon as reasonable.”
Strategist Matt Gertken from BCA Research noted that Trump’s stated goal of disarming Iran – including ending its nuclear and missile programs, curbing its naval activities, and halting support for terrorist groups – has seen limited progress. “These goals have barely been achieved so far,” Gertken concluded.
In corporate news, BioNTech founders and vaccine pioneers Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci will be leaving the company to start a new venture. The couple will depart by the complete of 2026, when their current contracts expire. Their new biotechnology company will focus on developing the next generation of mRNA-based medications.
Deutsche Bank Research analyst Emmanuel Papadakis views the departure with mixed feelings. He suggested the move could be seen as a lack of confidence, and could create a competitor. However, Papadakis also noted that Sahin and Türeci may be returning to their research roots, away from the pressures of a large, commercialized company. He added that BioNTech could become a more attractive target for pharmaceutical companies if its antibody drug, Pumitamig, proves successful.
BioNTech also reported a multi-billion dollar loss for the 2025 fiscal year, prompting a sell-off of its shares, which plummeted nearly 18 percent. Investors reacted negatively to the financial results and the leadership change.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals saw its shares rise 8.3 percent after releasing positive study data for a treatment for a rare kidney disease. Centene, however, experienced a nearly 16 percent drop in its stock price after offering a cautious outlook at a recent industry conference.
The software sector continued to face concerns about competition from developments in artificial intelligence. Salesforce shares fell almost two percent in the Dow, and investors are now focused on Oracle, which is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after market close.
The market movements reflect ongoing investor sensitivity to geopolitical risks and corporate performance, highlighting the complex interplay of factors influencing global financial markets.
