FX.co ★ US Futures Lower as Israel Hits Iran

On Friday, U.S. stock futures experienced a decline, with futures associated with the three main indices falling by approximately 1%. This drop came as investors sought refuge in safe-haven assets due to growing tensions in the Middle East. Notably, Israel initiated a precautionary strike on Iran, focusing on nuclear facilities and committing to ongoing operations until the perceived threat is eliminated. In the premarket trading session, airline stocks faced significant downturns, with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines decreasing by 4.1%, 4.6%, and 4.9%, respectively. Additionally, prominent tech stocks mostly saw declines: Nvidia fell by 1.4%, Microsoft by 0.7%, Amazon by 1.8%, Meta by 1.4%, Alphabet by 1.6%, and Tesla by 1.0%. Conversely, stocks in the oil and defense sectors experienced gains, with Exxon Mobil rising by 2.5%, Chevron by 2.6%, and Lockheed Martin by 3.2%. Despite the prevailing cautious sentiment on Friday, the major indices are still poised to achieve modest gains for the week, with the S&P 500 increasing nearly 0.7%, the Nasdaq gaining 0.7%, and the Dow Jones up by 0.5%.