FX.co ★ US Futures Slip as Middle East Risks Resurface

US stock futures fell on Wednesday after US forces intercepted an unexpected Iranian attack on American troops in the Middle East, an escalation that pushed oil prices higher and reignited concerns about inflation and the future path of interest rates. Investors were also focused on the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision, with the central bank widely expected to keep rates on hold, though some market participants still see a non-negligible chance of another hike.

In corporate news, Ford Motor rose nearly 4% in after-hours trading after the automaker beat earnings forecasts and raised its outlook for 2026. By contrast, SK Hynix slid almost 2% despite posting another record quarterly profit, as the results fell short of analyst expectations. Visa shares declined more than 1% after the payments giant issued guidance that disappointed the market.

In Tuesday’s regular session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.03% and the S&P 500 added 0.21%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.22%.