Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (-0.4%), Nasdaq Composite (-0.3%), and DJIA (-0.5%) are now modestly improved from their opening levels this morning. 

Stocks opened lower as the market was rattled by this weekend's conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which has sent oil prices sharply higher and disrupted global travel.

Oil remains above $70 per barrel, though it has come down from its morning highs, currently trading up $3.81 (+5.6%) to $70.83 per barrel. Unsurprisingly, the energy sector (+1.4%) is today's top mover, while the industrials sector (+0.4%) also trades higher amid solid gains across aerospace and defense names. 

More importantly to the major averages, the top-weighted information technology sector (+0.2%) now trades modestly higher. Palantir Technologies (PLTR 144.77, +7.58, +5.52%) is a standout amid the conflict in Iran, while the broader software space sees a rebound today, with the iShares GS Software ETF up 0.9%. 

While semiconductor stocks are mostly lower today, NVIDIA (NVDA 181.55, +4.36, +2.46%) is garnering some buying interest after several lower finishes that followed the company's earnings report. 

Elsewhere, the other eight S&P 500 sectors trade lower, with particular weakness across travel-related names sending the consumer discretionary sector (-1.5%) to the bottom of the leaderboard.

Outside of the S&P 500, the Russell 2000 (+0.4%) and S&P Mid Cap 400 (+0.3%) have shed their early losses. 

With weakness remaining relatively broad, it is tough to say that the market is entirely shaking off the conflict in Iran, though steady improvement throughout the session suggests that sentiment may be stabilizing.