- Markets reacted after Trump said the U.S. is “in negotiations right now” with Iran, alongside reports that Washington sent a 15-point plan via Pakistan to end the conflict.
- Investors weighed mixed signals as Israel and Iran exchanged further strikes, while reports said additional U.S. troops were deployed to the Middle East.
- Among the catalysts for Wednesday are the February import price index and the import price index excluding fuel.
U.S. stock futures climbed Tuesday night after signs of progress toward a potential Iran peace deal eased concerns about disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, though sharp swings in oil prices kept traders on edge.
As of 9.40 p.m. ET, Nasdaq 100 futures rose 1%, while S&P 500 and Dow futures were up 0.9%.
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment toward the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was ‘extremely bearish’ amid ‘high’ message volume, while sentiment toward the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) was ‘bearish’ amid ‘high’ message volume.
US Market Drivers
Markets reacted after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “in negotiations right now” with Iran and suggested Tehran is “talking sense,” while Axios reported that Washington sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the conflict via Pakistan, citing two unnamed officials.
In the prior session, all three major U.S. benchmarks closed lower:
| Index | Move | Close |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | -0.18% | 46,124.06 |
| S&P 500 | -0.37% | 6,556.37 |
| Nasdaq Composite | -0.84% | 21,761.89 |
The S&P 500 also pared earlier losses during the session after Trump said Iran had offered a “present” as a show of good faith in negotiations, noting it was related to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Energy markets remained a central driver of sentiment. Brent crude settled up 4.6% at $104 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude rose 4.8% to $92. Energy was the S&P 500’s top-performing sector during the session, rising about 2% and remaining the only sector in positive territory month-to-date.
Investment research firm HFI Research said on X that the administration has managed to keep WTI and Brent from reaching “eye-popping headline” levels despite roughly 11 million barrels per day of production being shut in, but added, “You can’t jawbone your way into more oil supplies. It is what it is.”
The developments followed earlier gains on Monday after Trump said that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” though Iranian state media later denied reports of direct talks between the two countries.
Investors continued weighing mixed signals around the conflict’s trajectory as Israel and Iran exchanged further strikes, while the Pentagon is reportedly planning to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East. Earlier, the administration had also ordered roughly 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to be deployed to the region.
Pakistan has offered to facilitate talks between the two countries, adding another possible diplomatic channel as the conflict entered its fourth week. Separately, Israeli media reported U.S. envoys are preparing for a possible one-month ceasefire framework intended to allow negotiations.
The Kobeissi Letter said on X that if a ceasefire leads to declines in Treasury yields and oil prices, Iran could lose a significant portion of its bargaining leverage, adding, “We expect immense volatility ahead.”
Trending Stocks To Watch On NYSE, Nasdaq
Tesla (TSLA): Shares rose nearly 1% in extended trading as investors focused on reports SpaceX could file its IPO prospectus as soon as this week or next, even as Future Fund managing partner Gary Black warned some Tesla shareholders may sell stock to fund participation in what could be a record-sized listing.
GameStop (GME): Shares slipped nearly 1% in after-hours trading after the company reported fourth-quarter net sales of $1.104 billion, missing consensus expectations of $1.47 billion, despite adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.49, beating estimates and operating income rising to $135.2 million.
Opendoor Technologies (OPEN): Shares closed nearly 1% lower on Tuesday as mortgage rates continued to rise rapidly, pressuring sentiment around housing turnover activity, which directly affects the company’s inventory-driven business model.
Fundrise Innovation Fund (VCX): Shares jumped 64% on Tuesday and gained another 10% in after-hours trading after Anthropic’s Claude launched a browser tool capable of completing tasks on users’ computers, boosting sentiment around the fund’s largest portfolio holding.
Intuitive Machines (LUNR): Shares jumped 2% in after-hours trading after the company announced a $180.4 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract to deliver science and tech payloads.
How Global Markets Are Performing Today
In broader markets, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose above the 4.4% level, while gold steadied near $4,480 after snapping a nine-day decline.
Economist Peter Schiff said on X that “the fundamentals for gold and silver were great before the war and they are even better now,” urging investors to take advantage of the liquidity-driven sell-off to add positions.
Asian markets were higher on Wednesday, with MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rising about 0.22%, while shares in Japan and Australia opened higher.
Among the catalysts for Wednesday are the February import price index, the import price index excluding fuel, and remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran.
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