The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that North American stock indexes fell on Thursday, with tech and mining shares leading declines as investors worried about a potential escalation of the Middle East war. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 495.08 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 31,887.52, giving back some of this week's gains. For March, the index is on track to lose 7.1 per cent. Major U.S. stock indexes declined at least 1 per cent, led by a 2.4-per-cent retreat for Nasdaq. It confirmed a correction denoting a decline of 10 per cent or more from its Oct. 29 record high, the latest setback for U.S. markets approaching one month of the war on Iran. The Dow lost 469.38 points at 45,960.11. A U.S. proposal for ending its war was rejected by Iran, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran must make a deal or face a continued onslaught. U.S. crude futures settled up 4.6 per cent. "Everything now is pretty much moving on the war," said Allan Small at iA Private Wealth. "The buildup of troops in the region over the last bunch of days -- that's an indication there could be an escalation in the war." Gains for the safe-haven U.S. dollar weighed on gold and copper prices.