U.S. stock index futures opened higher this Thursday, as investors monitored developments in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The reaction comes after American forces carried out a second consecutive day of military attacks, increasing market caution about risks to global trade, oil, and risk assets.
In addition to geopolitical tensions, Wall Street’s main index futures were trading in positive territory before the market open. The S&P 500 futures were moving toward 7.538,00 points, up by 9,25 points (+0,12%), while the Dow Jones futures were rising to 52.691,00 points, with a gain of 67,00 points (+0,13%). Meanwhile, the Nasdaq futures reached 29.501,00 points, an advance of 32,50 points (+0,11%).
The positive move was also observed in the Russell 2000 futures, which were up 0,22%, to 2.977,90 points. In contrast, the VIX, known as the Wall Street fear index, was up 4,77%, reaching 16,90 points, indicating higher demand for protection amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Among the assets considered defensive, gold was falling 0,27%, trading at 4.071,40. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin was quoted at US$ 61.921,07, down 1,27%, following the reduction in appetite for higher-risk assets amid geopolitical uncertainties.
U.S. stock index futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100 extended gains after the current U.S. president, Donald Trump, officially declared the end of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. The decision increased investors' attention to the possibility of a new military escalation in the region.
In a statement published on social media during the night of Wednesday, the U.S. Armed Forces said that "they initiated additional attacks against Iran to reduce even further its ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz".
The new offensive comes after attacks carried out by the U.S. on Tuesday. According to American military officials, the operation was conducted as a response to Iranian actions against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for transporting the world's oil.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the two countries was "ended" and again mentioned the possibility of new military measures. Among the alternatives discussed by the White House is the reinstatement of an American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a scenario that reinforced market concerns regarding global oil supply.
During the previous session, U.S. stocks reached trading with more significant gains. However, part of the appreciation was lost after statements by the U.S. president, while oil prices accelerated amid rising tensions in the region.
In addition to the geopolitical backdrop, investors continue to monitor the technology sector. The market is still assessing the impacts of the sharp selloff of chipmakers’ shares that occurred in June, a move that pressured companies linked to artificial intelligence and affected the performance of major technology giants.
Attention is also turning to the initial public offering (IPO) of chipmaker SK Hynix, scheduled for Friday. The debut should provide new signals about investors’ appetite for the semiconductor sector, considered strategic for the advancement of artificial intelligence. Performance in this segment often influences global market sentiment and also the behavior of digital assets, including the cryptocurrency market.