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Wall street dips as dow, s&p 500 fall and crypto soars

Wall Street Plummets | Stocks Down While Crypto Bounces Back

By

Ethan Johnson

Mar 13, 2026, 07:08 AM

Edited By

Talia Ben-Ari

2 minutes reading time

Graph showing a decline in major stock indexes while Bitcoin price rises sharply
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The U.S. stock market faced a sharp downturn on Thursday, with major indexes like the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq falling significantly due to climbing oil prices, rising Treasury yields, and geopolitical tensions. Investors are feeling the squeeze.

Market Reaction: Stocks Take a Dive

As oil prices soared past $100 a barrel and U.S. Treasury yields approached 5%, market volatility spiked. The following are final index standings:

  • Dow Jones: 46, down 484 points

  • S&P 500: 6,699, also losing points

  • Nasdaq: 22, decreased by 325 points

Interestingly, the crypto market rebounded. After briefly dipping below $70,000, Bitcoin is now trading around $70,400. This bounce amid a bleak stock market is raising eyebrows.

The Bigger Picture

Commentary from people on user boards highlights growing frustration. One noted, "A war that no one asked for" and raised concerns about inflation, while others pointed out the 50% drop in crypto markets recently. The macroeconomic environment is tightening, leaving many retail investors feeling the heat.

"For retail that means raises from your job arenโ€™t coming any time soon,โ€ lamented one commenter, emphasizing the strain on cash flow.

Key Themes in User Reactions

  • Market Pressures: High oil prices and geopolitical tensions cause deep concern.

  • Crypto's Resilience: Despite recent struggles, the crypto market is showing signs of recovery.

  • Inflation Impact: Inflation continues to weigh heavily on everyday spending.

What Does This Mean?

The current situation underscores growing economic pressures as the stock market reacts negatively to external factors. While retail investors face tough choices, cryptocurrency shows indication of resilience, albeit with lingering unease about future stability.

  • ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ Oil prices climbing above $100 caused major sell-offs, impacting investor confidence.

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Total crypto market now valued at $ trillion despite Bitcoin's past lows.

  • ๐Ÿ“‰ "Cryptoโ€™s turn will come," a sentiment echoed by some, but many remain skeptical.

The interplay between traditional markets and cryptocurrency is becoming more pronounced as economic uncertainty looms. Are investors prepared for what comes next?

Market Forecast: What Lies Ahead

Expectations are grim but realistic as economic pressures mount. With oil prices remaining elevated, experts predict a continued sell-off in traditional stocks, giving it about a 70% probability of happening in the near term. Meanwhile, the crypto market may display resilience, suggesting a 60% chance that Bitcoin could reclaim highs above $75,000 if investor sentiment shifts favorably. This potential recovery hinges on federal responses to inflation and ongoing geopolitical tensions, where any stabilizing measures could turn the tide for both markets.

Historical Echoes: A Lesson from Gold

An interesting parallel can be drawn from the 1970s, when inflation surged and gold became a go-to asset. At that time, investors flocked to gold amidst market turmoil, which saw its value swell significantly. Fast forward to today, weโ€™re witnessing cryptocurrency playing a similar role. As people search for alternatives in a tightening economic climate, Bitcoinโ€™s recent bounce back reflects that historical trend. Just as gold became a refuge back then, crypto may well become the hedge that many turn to in this climate, underscoring the cyclical nature of economic responses.