XLK is trading 1.9% down today as escalating Middle East tensions and a sharp decline in sector employment pressure growth stocks.
- Geopolitical risks are mounting following a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil prices above $113 per barrel and fueling inflation concerns.
- The broader market is retreating, with the NASDAQ Composite falling 1.67% and the S&P 500 down 1.11%.
- Sector-specific pressure is mounting as the U.S. technology industry shed 43,000 jobs over the past year, the sharpest decline since early 2024.