The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that U.S. stocks closed down on Thursday as the Middle East conflict entered its sixth day, pushing oil prices higher and spurring worries about inflation and whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says expansion of the conflict to more countries fed fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, where missile and drone threats have drastically reduced tanker traffic. This lifted U.S. crude prices about 8.5 per cent to $81 (U.S.) a barrel, with Brent rising 4.9 per cent to $85.41 (U.S.). Traders worry a prolonged interruption could feed inflation and slow economic growth. "Look at oil today, it tells you everything you need to know about why the stock market's down," said Michael Antonelli at Baird Private Wealth Management. "The market is really trying to grapple with how long this conflict will last." The S&P 500 lost 39.37 points to end at 6,830.13 points, while the Nasdaq composite lost 58.18 points to 22,749.31. The Dow fell 790.63 points to 47,948.78. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 332.89 points at 33,609.97. High-flying metal mining shares were among the biggest decliners as investors grew cautious.