04:18 PM EDT, 03/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes closed higher on Monday as oil prices fell after some tankers moved through the Strait of Hormuz, a supply flashpoint in the US-led war against Iran.

* April West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $5.22 to settle at $93.49 per barrel, while May Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $2.99 at $100.15.

* The CEO of Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) , Chevron ( CVX ) and ConocoPhillips ( COP ) cautioned the Trump administration that the disruption to energy flows caused by the closure of the strait would continue to fuel volatility in international markets, the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend,

* In economic news, industrial production rose 0.2% in February, compared with 0.7% in January and higher than 0.1% forecast by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

* The National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index rose to 38 in March from an upwardly revised 37 a month earlier, and higher than the 37 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

* Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) shares rose 6.4%, the second-biggest gainer on the S&P 500, after the company forecast annual growth in full-year results, while Q4 profit exceeded expectations despite weather-related store closures.