Shares of industrial and transportation companies rose as the Iran conflict spurred gains in container-shipping and defense stocks.
Shares of Danish freight shipping line AP Moller-Maersk rallied as the closure of shipping lanes around the Persian Gulf were set to drive up freight rates.
The Middle East conflict caused German carrier Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth largest liner operator, to delay plans to resume routes via the Suez Canal.
Among defense contractors, shares of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman rose sharply.
"This is a continuation of a long-term move, another piece of the puzzle that gives more [credence] to this theory that there's going to be more and more spend in this area," said J.D. Joyce, president of Houston financial advisory Joyce Wealth Management.
France will increase its stock of nuclear warheads and may for the first time temporarily deploy them on allies' territory, effectively broadening the country's nuclear deterrence amid mounting doubts about the U.S. security commitment to Europe.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 02, 2026 16:58 ET (21:58 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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