U.S. equity futures were broadly steady on Thursday evening as market participants positioned ahead of the Good Friday holiday and awaited a key U.S. labor-market report. By 20:19 ET (00:19 GMT), S&P 500 Futures stood at 6,624.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures were at 24,223.00 points and Dow Jones Futures traded flat at 46,748.0 points.
The regular session ended with mixed results. The S&P 500 finished little changed after a choppy day of trading, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%.
Investor sentiment improved in afternoon trading when Iran's foreign ministry said it was preparing a protocol with Oman to manage shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. That development followed early-session volatility sparked by remarks from President Donald Trump that Washington would ramp up attacks on Iran over the "two to three weeks." Market participants noted that the absence of a clear timeline and the possibility of further escalation had contributed to heightened moves across equities, commodities and currencies.
Attention now turns to the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, due later on Friday. The data is widely viewed as a pivotal indicator of labor-market strength and is expected to influence the Federal Reserve's policy trajectory. A stronger-than-expected payrolls reading could reinforce market bets on a higher-for-longer interest-rate environment, while a softer print may increase expectations for rate cuts later in the year.
With U.S. exchanges closed on Friday for Good Friday, market liquidity is likely to be thin. Traders cautioned that lower participation could magnify price moves in response to the payrolls figures or any fresh geopolitical developments.
Clear market follow-ups include monitoring the payrolls report for signs of wage and employment momentum, watching energy and shipping-related assets for reaction to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, and observing volatility in currencies and equities should geopolitical tensions re-escalate.