Middle East War Drives Oil Prices Up, Tech Stocks Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CSCO?
Source: seekingalpha
- Oil Price Surge Impact: The International Energy Agency reported that the ongoing Middle East war is causing the largest supply disruption in global oil market history, with Brent Futures rising about 9% and Crude Oil Futures increasing nearly 9.6%, putting pressure on tech stocks reliant on stable oil prices.
- Tech Stocks Decline: Amid rising oil prices and market uncertainty, the Nasdaq Composite fell approximately 1.4%, with Nvidia (NVDA) shares dropping about 2% and AMD declining nearly 3%, indicating a waning investor confidence in the tech sector.
- Market Risk Pricing Challenges: Nick Nelson, head of global equity strategy at Absolute Strategy Research, noted that global markets are struggling to price risks amid the ongoing war, which has heightened investor concerns and led to a sell-off in tech stocks.
- Chip Manufacturers Struggle: Several chip manufacturers, including Lattice Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries, saw declines of about 6%, while Micron Technology (MU) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) each fell around 5%, reflecting a pessimistic sentiment regarding the tech industry's outlook.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy CSCO?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on CSCO
Wall Street analysts forecast CSCO stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 77.930
Low
76.00
Averages
91.30
High
100.00
Current: 77.930
Low
76.00
Averages
91.30
High
100.00
About CSCO
Cisco Systems, Inc. designs and sells a range of technologies that power the Internet. The Company is integrating its product portfolios across networking, security, collaboration, applications and cloud. The Company's segments include the Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC). Its Networking product category represents its core networking technologies of switching, routing, wireless, fifth generation (5G), silicon, optics solutions and compute products. Its Security product category consists of its cloud and application security, industrial security, network security, and user and device security offerings. Its Collaboration product category consists of its meetings, collaboration devices, calling, contact center and platform as a service (CPaaS) offering. Its Observability product category consists of its full stack observability offerings.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Wireless Investment Surge: AI and IoT Drive Growth
- Investment Growth Trend: Over the past five years, 80% of organizations have increased their wireless investments, with 29% boosting budgets by over 50%, and 82% forecasting continued budget increases over the next 4-5 years, enhancing overall business agility and competitiveness.
- Business Value Enhancement: More than two-thirds of organizations report positive revenue impacts from wireless investments, with 75% improving customer engagement and 68% experiencing revenue growth, indicating the multiplier effect of strategic wireless investments is becoming evident.
- AI-Driven Operational Efficiency: AI-driven automation allows IT practitioners to reclaim over 850 hours annually, shifting focus to high-value strategic initiatives, thereby helping businesses maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market.
- Wireless Security Challenges: Despite AI driving wireless ROI, over half of organizations face financial losses from wireless security incidents, with some losses exceeding $1 million, highlighting the critical importance of security management in a fast-evolving technological landscape.
See More
Oracle's Dubai Office Damaged Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East
- Incident Overview: Oracle's office in Dubai was damaged by debris from an aerial interception, although no injuries were reported, highlighting the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
- Escalating Security Threats: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 tech companies, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, indicating the increasing significance of tech assets in conflicts.
- Industry Impact: James Henderson, CEO of risk management firm Healix, noted that the threats against tech companies are part of a sustained pattern, suggesting that future crises may target data centers and cloud platforms as much as traditional strategic sites.
- Historical Context: In March, Iran attacked Amazon Web Services data centers, causing outages in several apps and digital services in the UAE, underscoring the serious cybersecurity landscape in the region.
See More
Iran Threatens Attacks on U.S. Tech Firms Including Oracle
- Incident Overview: Oracle's building in Dubai sustained minor damage from debris due to an aerial interception, with no injuries reported; however, this incident highlights escalating tensions in the Middle East that could impact Oracle's operational safety in the region.
- Threats to Tech Companies: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 U.S. tech firms, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, which raises the operational risks for these companies in the Middle East.
- Rising Cybersecurity Risks: As threats against tech companies escalate, risk management expert James Henderson notes that tech assets are now viewed as integral to the conflict, suggesting future attacks may target data centers and cloud platforms, increasing security vulnerabilities in the industry.
- Historical Context: Iran previously attacked Amazon Web Services data centers in early March, causing outages in various apps and digital services in the UAE, and a repeat of such incidents could severely impact Oracle and other tech firms' operations.
See More
Nokia Shares Rise 6.65% Amid Increased Bullish Options Activity
- Stock Price Surge: Nokia (NOK) shares rose 6.65% to close at $8.82, primarily driven by increased bullish options activity, indicating market optimism about its future performance.
- Volume Spike: The trading volume reached 88.7 million shares, approximately 91% above the three-month average of 46.5 million shares, reflecting strong investor interest and activity in Nokia's stock.
- Restructuring and Expansion: Nokia is undergoing restructuring, planning to cut about 4,000 jobs to improve margins while expanding optical networking through the Infinera acquisition to address the growing AI and 5G data traffic, showcasing its strategic positioning in technology.
- Market Focus: Investors will closely monitor upcoming earnings reports to assess whether demand for optical equipment linked to AI data traffic can drive higher network sales, particularly against the backdrop of restructuring and cost pressures.
See More
Nokia Stock Rises on Surge in Bullish Options Activity
- Stock Price Increase: Nokia's stock closed at $8.82 on Thursday, up 6.65%, reflecting market optimism about its future performance, particularly against the backdrop of rising demand for 5G and AI data traffic.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 88.7 million shares, approximately 91% above the three-month average of 46.5 million shares, indicating strong investor interest and active market participation.
- Increased Options Activity: Call option volume surged to over 58,000 contracts, about 27% above typical levels, suggesting heightened investor confidence in Nokia's short-term prospects, although options activity alone does not directly impact the company's fundamentals.
- Restructuring and Expansion: Nokia is undergoing restructuring, planning to cut approximately 4,000 jobs to improve margins while expanding its optical networking business through the Infinera acquisition to meet growing AI and 5G data traffic, which may influence future orders and sales.
See More
Trump's Speech Triggers Recovery in Tech Stocks
- Market Reaction: Following Trump's speech regarding the Iran war, tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA) rose about 1% and AMD jumped nearly 3%, indicating market sensitivity to political developments, even as overall market averages remained subdued.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Trump's blame on Iran for rising U.S. gasoline prices led Brent crude futures to surge approximately 6.8% and crude oil futures to soar nearly 10.9%, which will directly impact related energy stocks and may prompt investors to reassess risks and opportunities in the energy sector.
- Chip Stock Performance: While some chip stocks like Intel (INTC) gained about 4%, others such as Micron Technology (MU) and GlobalFoundries (GFS) dipped around 1%, reflecting a divided sentiment in the chip industry that could influence future investment decisions.
- Overall Tech Stock Trends: Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) surged about 21% and Ciena (CIEN) rose around 8%, indicating that certain tech companies can achieve significant growth even in uncertain market conditions, reflecting ongoing investor interest in innovative technologies.
See More
Wireless Investment Surge: AI and IoT Drive Growth
- Investment Growth Trend: Over the past five years, 80% of organizations have increased their wireless investments, with 29% boosting budgets by over 50%, and 82% forecasting continued budget increases over the next 4-5 years, enhancing overall business agility and competitiveness.
- Business Value Enhancement: More than two-thirds of organizations report positive revenue impacts from wireless investments, with 75% improving customer engagement and 68% experiencing revenue growth, indicating the multiplier effect of strategic wireless investments is becoming evident.
- AI-Driven Operational Efficiency: AI-driven automation allows IT practitioners to reclaim over 850 hours annually, shifting focus to high-value strategic initiatives, thereby helping businesses maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market.
- Wireless Security Challenges: Despite AI driving wireless ROI, over half of organizations face financial losses from wireless security incidents, with some losses exceeding $1 million, highlighting the critical importance of security management in a fast-evolving technological landscape.
See More
Oracle's Dubai Office Damaged Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East
- Incident Overview: Oracle's office in Dubai was damaged by debris from an aerial interception, although no injuries were reported, highlighting the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
- Escalating Security Threats: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 tech companies, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, indicating the increasing significance of tech assets in conflicts.
- Industry Impact: James Henderson, CEO of risk management firm Healix, noted that the threats against tech companies are part of a sustained pattern, suggesting that future crises may target data centers and cloud platforms as much as traditional strategic sites.
- Historical Context: In March, Iran attacked Amazon Web Services data centers, causing outages in several apps and digital services in the UAE, underscoring the serious cybersecurity landscape in the region.
See More
Iran Threatens Attacks on U.S. Tech Firms Including Oracle
- Incident Overview: Oracle's building in Dubai sustained minor damage from debris due to an aerial interception, with no injuries reported; however, this incident highlights escalating tensions in the Middle East that could impact Oracle's operational safety in the region.
- Threats to Tech Companies: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 U.S. tech firms, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, which raises the operational risks for these companies in the Middle East.
- Rising Cybersecurity Risks: As threats against tech companies escalate, risk management expert James Henderson notes that tech assets are now viewed as integral to the conflict, suggesting future attacks may target data centers and cloud platforms, increasing security vulnerabilities in the industry.
- Historical Context: Iran previously attacked Amazon Web Services data centers in early March, causing outages in various apps and digital services in the UAE, and a repeat of such incidents could severely impact Oracle and other tech firms' operations.
See More
Nokia Shares Rise 6.65% Amid Increased Bullish Options Activity
- Stock Price Surge: Nokia (NOK) shares rose 6.65% to close at $8.82, primarily driven by increased bullish options activity, indicating market optimism about its future performance.
- Volume Spike: The trading volume reached 88.7 million shares, approximately 91% above the three-month average of 46.5 million shares, reflecting strong investor interest and activity in Nokia's stock.
- Restructuring and Expansion: Nokia is undergoing restructuring, planning to cut about 4,000 jobs to improve margins while expanding optical networking through the Infinera acquisition to address the growing AI and 5G data traffic, showcasing its strategic positioning in technology.
- Market Focus: Investors will closely monitor upcoming earnings reports to assess whether demand for optical equipment linked to AI data traffic can drive higher network sales, particularly against the backdrop of restructuring and cost pressures.
See More
Nokia Stock Rises on Surge in Bullish Options Activity
- Stock Price Increase: Nokia's stock closed at $8.82 on Thursday, up 6.65%, reflecting market optimism about its future performance, particularly against the backdrop of rising demand for 5G and AI data traffic.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 88.7 million shares, approximately 91% above the three-month average of 46.5 million shares, indicating strong investor interest and active market participation.
- Increased Options Activity: Call option volume surged to over 58,000 contracts, about 27% above typical levels, suggesting heightened investor confidence in Nokia's short-term prospects, although options activity alone does not directly impact the company's fundamentals.
- Restructuring and Expansion: Nokia is undergoing restructuring, planning to cut approximately 4,000 jobs to improve margins while expanding its optical networking business through the Infinera acquisition to meet growing AI and 5G data traffic, which may influence future orders and sales.
See More
Trump's Speech Triggers Recovery in Tech Stocks
- Market Reaction: Following Trump's speech regarding the Iran war, tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA) rose about 1% and AMD jumped nearly 3%, indicating market sensitivity to political developments, even as overall market averages remained subdued.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Trump's blame on Iran for rising U.S. gasoline prices led Brent crude futures to surge approximately 6.8% and crude oil futures to soar nearly 10.9%, which will directly impact related energy stocks and may prompt investors to reassess risks and opportunities in the energy sector.
- Chip Stock Performance: While some chip stocks like Intel (INTC) gained about 4%, others such as Micron Technology (MU) and GlobalFoundries (GFS) dipped around 1%, reflecting a divided sentiment in the chip industry that could influence future investment decisions.
- Overall Tech Stock Trends: Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) surged about 21% and Ciena (CIEN) rose around 8%, indicating that certain tech companies can achieve significant growth even in uncertain market conditions, reflecting ongoing investor interest in innovative technologies.
See More
