United States stock futures were trading slightly lower on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT) as investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East, with cautious optimism emerging around a potential resolution to the conflict involving Iran.
By 10:20 am AEDT (11:20 pm GMT), futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 were each down 0.2%.
During Wednesday’s regular trading, all three major benchmarks closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.8% advance.
Attention remains firmly on geopolitical developments. Iran’s foreign minister reportedly told state media that Tehran has no intention of entering direct talks with the United States.
However, officials are said to be reviewing a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Earlier reports from Iranian state media indicated the country would reject a U.S. ceasefire proposal, instead offering a five-point counterplan that includes demands for control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflicting signals have contributed to ongoing uncertainty in global markets.
Oil prices moved lower during Wednesday’s session as traders weighed the possibility of de-escalation, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures and Brent crude down 2.2% apiece.
The easing in energy prices has helped support broader market sentiment, particularly in sectors sensitive to fuel costs.
Looking ahead, investors are expected to focus on fresh economic data, with initial jobless claims for the week ending 21 March due for release later in the U.S. session.
