U.S. equity futures pointed lower in premarket trading on Thursday as oil prices rose past the $100 per barrel mark and geopolitical violence persisted in the Middle East despite reports suggesting talks on peace between the U.S. and Iran could take place.
By 07:36 ET (11:36 GMT), futures across the major indexes showed notable declines: the Dow futures contract was down 351 points, or about 0.8%, S&P 500 futures had eased by 53 points, or 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had fallen roughly 230 points, or 0.9%.
Several sectors moved materially ahead of the cash market open. Mining shares broadly retreated, and travel-related stocks were weaker in the premarket session, with airline names such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines among those sliding. Cruise operator Carnival Corp. also posted losses, a response that analysts have highlighted could reflect sensitivity to higher fuel costs.
Energy majors bucked the broader weakness, with oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron moving higher as benchmark crude climbed above the $100 level.
In banking, Jefferies Financial reported first-quarter results that failed to meet investor expectations. The company said losses on loans to collapsed companies weighed on results, offsetting what were described as strong returns from its investment banking business. Jefferies shares dipped by more than 1.8% in the premarket session.
Semiconductor-related names including Micron and Sandisk pulled back after a report that researchers at Google proposed a new compression technique that could change the amount of memory needed to power artificial intelligence tools. The report prompted declines in memory chip stocks.
Biotech and biopharma action featured prominently. Kodiak Sciences jumped sharply after data from a late-stage trial for an experimental therapy addressing a diabetic eye complication were released. Preceigen shares surged following first-quarter results that the company said were supported by strength at its treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Separately, Navan, a business travel platform, announced fourth-quarter results that topped expectations and lifted its shares.
Office furniture designer MillerKnoll tumbled after issuing an underwhelming fiscal fourth-quarter earnings outlook, dragging its stock lower in premarket trade.
The premarket landscape showed a mix of macro and idiosyncratic drivers - rising oil and ongoing geopolitical tensions pressured broad market sentiment, while company-specific news from financials, semiconductor research, and multiple biopharmaceutical and travel-related firms created sharp movers ahead of the opening bell.