Stocks Ended Sharply Lower; Dow Plunged over 233 Points

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Friday, with the Dow tumbled more than 230 points, as geopolitical tensions ratcheted up in the Middle East following a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 233.92 points, or 0.81%, to 28,634.88. The S&P 500 fell 23.00 points, or 0.81%, to 3,234.85. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 71.42 points, or 0.79%, to 9,020.77.

Oil futures rallied Friday, lifting U.S. prices to their highest finish in more than seven months. West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery rose $1.87, or 3.1%, to settle at $63.05 a barrel. March Brent crude rose $2.35, or about 3.6%, to $68.60 a barrel.