U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Monitor Iran Conflict and Oil Volatility

U.S. stock futures moved higher on Monday as investors assessed the continuing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran, which has now entered its third week.

By 07:07 ET (11:07 GMT), Dow Jones futures rose 225 points (0.5%), S&P 500 futures gained 46 points (0.7%), and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 198 points (0.8%).

Oil surge weighed on markets last week

Wall Street’s main indices ended the previous week lower as oil prices surged sharply amid fears of global supply disruptions.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route south of Iran that carries roughly 20% of global tanker traffic, has been effectively closed by Tehran, restricting energy flows and raising concerns about the global economic outlook.

Although the United States has attempted to ease supply pressures—including by relaxing certain sanctions on Russian oil—crude prices have remained elevated. The rise in oil prices has also pushed gasoline prices higher in the United States, adding to inflation concerns and drawing political attention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in November.

Trump seeks international support to reopen shipping route

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on several countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump did not confirm whether any nations had agreed to participate.

In remarks to the Financial Times, Trump warned that NATO members should help secure the shipping lane, stating that failure to do so would be “very bad for the future of NATO.”

China was also singled out, with Trump suggesting he could cancel a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April if Beijing does not use its influence to help restore tanker traffic.

According to a report by The New York Times, some tankers carrying oil to China have been allowed to pass through the strait, while others have reportedly been hit by projectiles.

Meanwhile, the European Union is considering options to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the bloc’s top diplomat, cited by The Wall Street Journal. The closure has significantly disrupted energy supplies to Europe and Asia, both major importers of oil transported through the route.

Oil remains above $100 despite pullback

Oil markets remained volatile on Monday.

Although Brent crude retreated from earlier gains, the global benchmark continued to trade above $100 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped 1% to $95.91 per barrel.

Nvidia conference in focus

Beyond geopolitical developments, investors are also watching corporate news, particularly from the technology sector.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to speak at the company’s annual developer conference, where markets are eager to hear about new products and strategies as competition in the artificial intelligence chip market intensifies.

Nvidia faces growing pressure from rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel, as well as major technology firms—including Alphabet’s Google—that are developing their own AI processors.

Another emerging challenge for Nvidia is the rise of AI “inference” computing, where AI systems perform real-time tasks. These workloads often rely on specialized chips different from Nvidia’s traditional hardware. Companies such as OpenAI and Meta Platforms have signaled plans to develop their own AI processors.

To strengthen its position, Nvidia recently acquired AI chip startup Groq for $17 billion, which focuses on fast and cost-efficient inference computing. Huang is expected to demonstrate how Groq’s technology integrates with Nvidia’s CUDA platform.

The company has also invested about $2 billion in optical technology firms Lumentum and Coherent, which develop laser-based data transmission systems designed to improve communication speeds between chips.

Meta reportedly considers layoffs

Elsewhere in the tech sector, Meta Platforms is reportedly considering major layoffs that could affect more than 20% of its workforce, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter.

The potential cuts are part of efforts to offset the growing costs of building artificial intelligence infrastructure and to improve efficiency through AI-assisted operations.

Meta’s shares rose more than 3% in premarket trading, although the layoffs have not yet been finalized and no timeline has been announced.