FX.co ★ US Futures Edge Lower on Ceasefire Concerns

US stock futures slipped on Thursday as oil prices edged higher and lingering uncertainty over a ceasefire between Iran and the US-Israeli side weighed on market sentiment. Iranian media reported that oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had been halted following new Israeli strikes on Lebanon, while a senior Iranian official said three elements of the ceasefire proposal had already been violated.

At the same time, US Vice President JD Vance said there were indications the strait could begin to reopen, as he heads a US delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran this weekend.

In regular trading on Wednesday, the Dow jumped 2.85%, the S&P 500 climbed 2.51%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.8% after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire intended to support negotiations toward a potential resolution of the conflict. Ten of the S&P 500’s 11 sectors finished higher, led by industrials, communication services, and materials.