Late Monday, global markets turned cautious as rising tensions in the Middle East rattled investors, pushing U.S. stock futures lower and lifting oil prices amid fears of a broader regional escalation.
Dow Futures Slide As Geopolitical Risks Pressure Markets
Dow futures fell 234.00 points, or 0.46%, to 50,900.00, while S&P 500 futures slipped 30.50 points, or 0.40%, to 7,582.75 and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 185.25 points, or 0.61%, to 30,381.00 as of around 8:52 p.m. EDT.
In commodities, WTI crude oil rose 0.03% to $92.19 per barrel. Brent crude gained 0.15% to $95.12 per barrel.
Natural gas futures rose 0.25% to $3.187 per MMBtu.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index stood at 99.167, down 0.01%.
Asian markets traded lower, with South Korea’s KOSPI falling 1.94% to 8,617.84 and Japan’s Nikkei 225 declining 1.31% to 66,055.25.
Oil Prices Rise As Iran Threatens To Halt Negotiations
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran could suspend diplomatic engagement if Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue.
“If the crimes of the Zionist regime in Lebanon continue, we will not only halt the dialogue process but also stand firmly against them,” Ghalibaf wrote on X after a call with Lebanon parliament speaker Nabih Berri, while reaffirming support for Hezbollah and Lebanese allies.
Iranian state media separately reported that Tehran could completely shut the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for continued attacks — a scenario that could threaten global energy flows, CNBC reported.
Trump Downplays End Of Iran Talks
President Donald Trump appeared unfazed by the possibility of negotiations collapsing.
“I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” Trump told CNBC when asked about reports suggesting Iran may halt talks with Washington.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch a major operation in Beirut. “He turned his Troops around,” he wrote.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock/ Joey Sussman
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