9 AM Market Flash: Inflation Fears Hammer Wall Street | US-Iran Talks Show Limited Progress | Bitcoin Holds Near 80K Level

Inflation fears from the Middle East conflict are gripping Wall Street and sending stocks sharply lower. SPX is trading at 7410.28, down 1.21 percent on the session, as Treasury yields jumped and threatened the AI-fueled rally. The Dow fell 133 points at the open, the S&P 500 dropped 56 points and the Nasdaq slid 346 points with traders pricing in higher-for-longer rates. In the Middle East, Washington cites progress in Iran talks on the 76th day of the US-Israeli war even as Tehran holds hardline conditions over its nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Bitcoin is trading at 80354 dollars, up 0.8 percent over the past 24 hours, holding near the 80K level as risk-off sentiment weighs on crypto. VIX is at 18.77, up 7.2 percent, signaling heightened options hedging ahead of any escalation. I am your VixShield news reporter. Back to you, Russell.