Wall Street Futures Fall as Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions
WASHINGTON — U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Wall Street on Monday as oil prices surged past $110 per barrel, heightening concerns about inflation and global economic stability.
Dow Jones futures, an early indicator of market performance, dropped more than 1 percent ahead of the opening bell, reflecting increased risk aversion among investors.
As of early Monday trading, Dow Jones futures were at 46,964.86, down 536.69 points, or 1.13 percent. Futures tied to the S&P 500 were down about 1 percent, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped roughly 1.1 percent.
Earlier in the session, futures had fallen more sharply before recovering slightly after oil prices eased back toward $110 per barrel. The pullback followed a report from the Financial Times that finance ministers from the Group of Seven nations may discuss releasing petroleum reserves in coordination with the International Energy Agency.
The cautious start to the week follows losses across major U.S. stock indexes on Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined about 1 percent to close at 47,501.55, marking its largest weekly drop since early April 2025.
The S&P 500 also fell more than 1 percent to finish at 6,740.00, its steepest weekly decline since mid-October, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.6 percent to close at 22,387.68.
Market volatility has intensified amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iran recently announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader.
Crude oil prices have climbed roughly 50 percent since the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
President Donald Trump defended the surge in oil prices, describing it as a temporary effect of confronting Iran’s nuclear program.
“Short-term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA and world safety and peace,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.
The recent rise in oil prices represents one of the largest weekly increases in oil futures trading since the early 1980s, adding to concerns about the potential impact on global markets. (Source: IANS)
