U.S. stock index futures climbed on Sunday evening as market participants reacted to reports that the United States and Iran had agreed to halt recent hostilities near the Strait of Hormuz and to restart talks, reducing the immediate prospect of a wider regional disruption.
By 20:16 ET (00:16 GMT), S&P 500 Futures were up 0.5% at 7,435.0 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures had risen 0.5% to 29,514.75 points and Dow Jones Futures were trading 0.3% higher at 52,369.0 points.
Investor risk appetite improved after an Axios report said the two governments had agreed to stop fighting over the strategic waterway and to resume negotiations in Doha, a development that trimmed near-term fears of an escalation affecting global shipments.
Fresh U.S. strikes over the weekend targeted Iranian military and surveillance sites, actions taken after a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz and commercial shipping faced renewed pressure. Those strikes came amid a cycle of retaliatory actions: Iran reportedly launched missile and drone attacks aimed at U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, and warned it could suspend talks if further U.S. strikes occurred.
President Donald Trump cautioned that Washington might have to "militarily complete the job" if attacks continued, comments that underscored the tenuousness of the situation even as talks were reported to be restarting. According to the Axios report, the two sides plan to meet on Tuesday in Qatar.
Market participants noted that the reported diplomatic steps build on a June 17 interim peace agreement between the two countries that had ended several weeks of escalating conflict in the Gulf. Oil prices ticked higher on the news cycle, as traders continued to price in the possibility that renewed hostilities could threaten tanker traffic and energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
Beyond the immediate geopolitical headlines, Wall Street is still digesting last week’s market moves. Investors rotated away from high-growth technology names amid worries about stretched valuations and a slowdown in momentum for artificial intelligence-related stocks. Over the prior week, the S&P 500 fell 2.0%, while the NASDAQ Composite plunged 4.6%, marking its worst weekly showing in more than a year.
Sentiment was further weighed down after Apple raised prices on several MacBook and iPad models, a move the company attributed to surging memory-chip costs driven by strong demand from artificial-intelligence data centres. That development was specifically cited as dampening investor enthusiasm for tech shares.
Looking ahead, traders are preparing for a busy calendar that includes U.S. labor market data and second-quarter results from major corporations. With the U.S. Independence Day holiday approaching, trading volumes may be lighter than usual, yet geopolitical developments in the Middle East are expected to remain a primary determinant of market risk sentiment across asset classes.
Summary - U.S. futures rose after reports that Washington and Tehran agreed to pause attacks around the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks in Doha. The move relieved some immediate geopolitical risk, prompting gains in equity futures and a modest rise in oil prices, while investors continue to watch tech sector weakness and the upcoming U.S. economic and corporate calendar.