[US Futures Flat as Tech Gains Amid Trump’s Iran Remarks]
U.S. stock index futures were largely unchanged on Thursday evening, with S&P 500 futures slipping 0.1% to 7,578.75 points, Nasdaq 100 futures falling 0.3% to 29,829.75 points, and Dow Jones futures holding steady at 52,738.0 points as of 20:40 ET (00:40 GMT).
The three major U.S. equity indexes closed higher on the day: the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 advanced 0.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.3%, led by technology shares.
President Donald Trump announced that Iran had reached out seeking negotiations, a statement that eased geopolitical tension and bolstered market sentiment despite recent military exchanges and concerns over Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
Oil prices retreated on Thursday, partially reversing the week’s earlier surge, which helped reduce worries that higher energy costs could reignite inflationary pressures and complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
Chipmakers and artificial‑intelligence‑related companies drove the market’s advance, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gaining roughly 3% for a second consecutive session.
Fresh labour‑market data showed initial jobless claims edging down to 215,000, indicating continued resilience in employment, while other data pointed to ongoing weakness in the housing sector.
Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting highlighted officials’ concerns that persistent inflation risks could keep interest rates elevated for a longer period.
Investor attention now shifts to the start of the second‑quarter earnings season, with major banks slated to report results next week.