Futures Mixed as Iran Tensions Rise; Tech Leads Friday Gains

U.S. stock futures are trading mixed in pre-market hours following escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over the weekend, with reports of military strikes exchanged between the two nations. Friday’s session saw major indices close higher, led by a 2.23% surge in technology stocks that helped offset weakness in defensive sectors.

Geopolitical Developments Drive Market Sentiment

Weekend developments between the U.S. and Iran are dominating pre-market sentiment after reports emerged of American strikes on Iranian military sites, followed by Tehran’s response targeting U.S. air bases. Treasury yields edged higher amid the heightened geopolitical tensions, while oil prices climbed on supply concerns. Despite the military escalation, President Trump indicated that Iran “really wants to make a deal with the US,” according to Reuters reporting.

Asian factory output data showed expansion as firms build inventory buffers in response to Iran war risks, while gold slipped on a stronger dollar as investors weighed safe-haven demand against geopolitical uncertainty.

Technology Sector Momentum Continues

Friday’s 2.23% technology sector rally helped drive the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) to a 0.37% gain, closing at $738.31. The S&P 500 (SPY) advanced 0.25% to $756.48, while the Dow Jones (DIA) posted the strongest performance with a 0.74% increase to $510.78. Individual standouts included DLLL, which surged 64.41% to $199.51, and OKTG, gaining 60.61% to $24.66.

Defensive sectors underperformed, with consumer staples declining 1.80% and healthcare falling 0.93%. Energy stocks dropped 1.16% despite the geopolitical tensions that typically support oil-related equities.

Key Sector ETFs to Monitor

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) remains in focus following Friday’s outperformance, while Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) faces mixed signals from geopolitical tensions versus Friday’s decline. Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) showed resilience with a 0.60% gain amid rising yields.

Corporate Earnings Schedule

Several companies report earnings today, including semiconductor giant NXP Semiconductors (NXP), though specific earnings estimates were not available for most reporting companies including LSH, CUEN, COOT, HFUS, TESI, JF, and AIMAU.

This article is generated from market data for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice.