U.S. stocks began down at the open Monday.
Oil prices shot up and Iran rumors added to the jitters across markets.
The S&P 500 dropped rapidly while traders reacted.
Tech stocks dragged the index down due to valuation concerns.
The Dow managed a small gain but most shares remained flat or down by noon.
Traders think earnings will reveal whether big tech and consumer stocks can recover in the coming days once volatility eases.