Stocks recover most of a sharp opening drop amid energy and factory signals

QQQ opened down 1.16% and SPY opened down 0.90%, then both recovered most of those losses to finish lower by 0.24% and 0.23%. Regional conflict remained a central risk as QatarEnergy stopped LNG production after attacks on operating facilities and Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was closed to passing vessels. U.S. factory data offered a firmer counterpoint. The February ISM manufacturing PMI reached 52.4, while its prices index rose to 70.5 against a 60.6 estimate. Technology and policy developments included NVIDIA's $2 billion investments in each of two optical suppliers, a court decision advancing the tariff-refund dispute, and overnight drone attacks on AWS data centers in the Middle East.