FX.co ★ US Futures Ease from Records

US equity futures edged lower on Thursday as escalating tensions between Iran and the US pushed energy prices higher. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and the Dow fell about 0.5% from Wednesday’s record closes, while Nasdaq 100 contracts slipped 0.7%. Overnight, the US carried out additional strikes on Iranian targets near the Persian Gulf, deepening doubts about a potential agreement after the White House dismissed Tehran’s assertion that it held a draft peace deal to reopen trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

Technology stocks led declines for a second straight session as investors questioned the durability of bullish guidance in the AI space, with Nvidia and Tesla each down more than 1% in premarket trading. More cyclical and traditional sectors also came under pressure as hawkish remarks from Federal Open Market Committee officials pushed long-term yields higher. Snowflake soared 40% premarket on an upbeat outlook, though the strength failed to lift the broader software group, with Salesforce dropping 2% after releasing its earnings.