U.S. stock futures dipped slightly in after-hours trading Wednesday, as investors closely monitored ongoing developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding the conflict in Iran. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.2%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures decreased by 101 points, also reflecting a 0.2% drop. Earlier in the day, all three major indexes ended their regular sessions on a positive note, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.54%, the Nasdaq Composite rising by 0.77%, and the Dow soaring 305.43 points, or 0.66%.
Iran’s foreign minister shared on Wednesday that the country’s leadership is currently reviewing an American proposal aimed at bringing an end to hostilities. Despite this, Tehran has expressed no interest in engaging in direct negotiations with the U.S. Reports from Iranian state media indicated that the country would reject a proposed U.S. ceasefire, opting instead to counter with its own five-point proposal, which includes demands for control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Market reactions also extended to oil prices, which eased during Wednesday’s trading session as traders began to hope for a potential resolution to the conflict. U.S. oil futures saw a decline of 2.2%, settling at $90.32 a barrel, while international Brent crude futures slipped by 2.17%, closing at $102.22.
Despite the upward trajectory observed in the stock market week-to-date, following a significant downturn last week attributed to escalating tensions in the region, caution remains among some analysts. Kate Moore, the chief investment officer at Citi Wealth, noted on CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime” that the current market optimism might be unwarranted. “Some of the price action we’ve experienced, especially in the last two trading days, is basically showing, I think, a huge amount of optimism that we’re going to have a resolution and not a broad-based inflationary impact from the shock in energy,” she remarked. “That makes me a little bit nervous, if I’m honest.”
Moore emphasized the importance of strategic portfolio construction during these unpredictable times, advocating for resilience against both inflationary pressures and the possibility of prolonged conflict that may not align with optimistic market expectations.
Market participants will be looking ahead to Thursday, when initial jobless claims data for the week ending March 21 will be released, providing further insight into the health of the U.S. economy.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to unfold, investors remain on high alert, weighing geopolitical risks against potential market gains.
—CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-26 09:18:00
