US stock futures nudged up on Friday after President Trump further delayed promised US strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, but doubts about the chances of a peace deal muted gains and spurred oil’s rally.
Contracts on the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) and the S&P 500 (ES=F) rose roughly 0.2%. Meanwhile, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) nudged up 0.1%, following steep losses for Wall Street stocks on Thursday.
Oil prices pushed over 1% higher as attacks continued across the Middle East, raising concerns the war could run into April and beyond. Brent crude (BZ=F) traded above $103 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) neared $96 as investors eyed the growing economic hit from the halt to Strait of Hormuz traffic.
Trump extended his deadline for Iran by 10 days, giving it until April 6 to comply with US demands or face for strikes on its power plants. The move marks a shift 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.
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