US equity futures fell sharply on Monday, interrupting last week’s powerful rally that delivered multiple record highs, as renewed concerns over Middle East peace prospects and risks to energy supplies weighed on sentiment. Futures on the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq 100 were all down about 0.5%.
Market optimism faded after Iranian officials walked back Friday’s indication that they would permit all vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz—a step that had been seen as a potential catalyst for restoring global energy flows and opening a path toward de-escalation with the United States. Tensions were further heightened when US forces targeted an Iranian container ship, a move that threatened to undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The shift in geopolitical risk hit heavyweight technology stocks in pre-market trading, setting a negative tone for higher-risk, speculative tech names. Shares of Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Oracle were each down about 1%, while Tesla and Intel declined more than 1% ahead of their earnings reports later this week.
