Stock futures were mixed on Friday as earnings season kicked off with positive results from US banks, but the conflict in the Middle East kept investors cautious. S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures declined slightly, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 0.4%. The strong profits from banks like Wells Fargo, BlackRock, and JPMorgan are being closely watched for their ability to handle higher interest rates and the slowdown in dealmaking in recent years. Concerns over the escalating conflict in the Middle East and US sanctions on crude sales to Russia have also impacted market sentiment.
In commodities, oil prices rose due to worries about the situation in the Middle East and the US sanctions. Crude oil and Brent crude futures both climbed by over 3.5%. Meanwhile, the UK antitrust regulator has approved Microsoft’s acquisition of games company Activision Blizzard, following the tech giant’s sale of streaming rights.
US stock futures remained steady as banks reported positive earnings during the start of the earnings season. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures hovered around the flatline, while Nasdaq 100 futures were slightly lower. Investor attention is focused on the performance of banks in light of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and the slowdown in dealmaking. The conflict in the Middle East and tightening US sanctions on crude sales to Russia have contributed to market uncertainty.
The major US stock market indices experienced a decline in futures on Friday, driven by the release of BlackRock’s earnings and the anticipation of other Wall Street bank results. Dow Jones futures dropped 0.16% and S&P 500 futures lost 0.32%, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 0.56%. The overall market sentiment has been affected by concerns over the Middle East conflict and US sanctions on crude sales. Investors are closely monitoring the performance of banks to assess their readiness for higher interest rates and the potential recovery of dealmaking.
