US stock futures inched higher Thursday evening as investors assessed Trump’s decision to delay potential strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure following steep losses in equities during the day.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) and the S&P 500 (ES=F) rose 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) also gained roughly 0.3%.
The major gauges fell sharply Thursday, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) dropping 1.7% and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) sliding 2.4% into correction territory. The Dow (^DJI) lost more than 460 points. For the week, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are modestly lower, while the Dow is slightly higher.
Oil prices remained elevated but pulled back from intraday highs. Brent (BZ=F) crude traded above $107 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) hovered above $93 as the impacts of the Iran war continue to be felt globally.
Markets drew support after Trump extended the deadline for possible military action against Iran’s energy facilities to April 6, pushing it back more than a week. The move marks a drastic change in Trump’s tone around the war, showing a potential path toward de-escalation.
Still, uncertainty lingers. Reports indicate Iran’s leadership remains reluctant to engage in direct negotiations with Washington, even as it reviews a US proposal.
Looking ahead domestically, recession odds are rising as oil volatility threatens growth. Showing the impact to American homeowners, mortgage delinquencies reached their highest levels since 2022. In labour markets, employment numbers released Thursday showed that AI-led layoffs were most felt in Big Tech companies as unemployment generally held steady.
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Stock market coverage for Friday, March 27, 2026.