Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Up as Trump May End Iran War Without Hormuz Deal

TLDR

• Stock futures climbed Tuesday after Trump signaled willingness to end the Iran war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz
• Dow futures rose 1%, S&P 500 futures up 0.9%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.8%
• The three major indexes are on track for their worst quarter since 2022
• Oil prices remained elevated, with WTI crude above $100 a barrel
• Investors await March consumer confidence data and February JOLTS report

US stock futures pushed higher Tuesday morning after a report suggested President Trump may be willing to end the war in Iran without forcing a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around 459 points, or 1%. S&P 500 futures added 0.9% and Nasdaq 100 contracts gained 0.8%.

The move came after The Wall Street Journal reported late Monday that Trump and his aides had concluded that a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would extend the conflict beyond the White House’s target of four to six weeks.

Tuesday is the final trading day of the first quarter. All three major indexes are on course for their worst three-month stretch since 2022, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

All three indexes fell Monday, giving up early gains as investors grew uneasy over the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Sentiment had turned sharply negative heading into Tuesday. The CBOE Volatility Index topped 30 on Monday, a level that reflects high investor anxiety.

Oil Stays High Despite Diplomatic Signals

Oil prices remained elevated even as diplomatic signals improved. West Texas Intermediate crude closed above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022. On Tuesday morning, WTI futures climbed a further 0.4% to $103.28 a barrel. Brent crude was flat at $107.38.

Stocks have struggled to hold gains in recent weeks when oil prices stay high, which remains a concern for investors.

Gold futures rose 0.5% to $4,581 an ounce in early trading. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged one basis point lower to 4.33%. The dollar was flat against a basket of major currencies.

Communication from Washington has been mixed. While some officials have pointed to diplomatic progress, Trump separately suggested the US could move to seize control of Iran’s oil.

Economic Data Due Tuesday

Investors are watching for fresh economic data later Tuesday. The March consumer confidence reading and the February Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey are both due. These reports are expected to give a clearer picture of where the US economy stands heading into the second quarter.

The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its fifth week as of Tuesday.

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