US Stock Market Today: U.S. stock futures were under pressure on Tuesday, August 18, as rising oil prices, higher Treasury yields and fading hopes of a U.S.-Iran peace deal weighed on investor sentiment. Nasdaq futures led declines, while Dow futures remained nearly flat. Â
US Stock Futures Today
At around 6:40 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 18 points, or 0.03%, while S&P 500 E-minis fell 36.75 points, or 0.47%. Nasdaq 100 E-minis dropped 362.75 points, or 1.21%. The moves suggest a cautious start on Wall Street as investors assess geopolitical risks, oil prices, bond yields and the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate outlook.
S&P 500 Futures Today
S&P 500 futures fell about 0.47%, pointing to a weaker opening for the broader U.S. stock market. Rising oil prices and higher Treasury yields were among the factors weighing on investor sentiment as concerns over inflation and geopolitical risks returned to focus. Â
Nasdaq Futures Today
Nasdaq 100 futures dropped about 1.21%, making technology stocks the biggest area of weakness in premarket trading. Nvidia fell around 2%, while Tesla declined about 1.4%. Semiconductor stocks including AMD and Intel were also lower, with some chip and data-storage companies seeing sharper declines.Â
Dow Jones Futures Today
Dow Jones futures were nearly flat in premarket trading on Tuesday, August 18, with Dow E-minis up about 18 points, or 0.03%. The relative resilience in Dow futures came as gains in Home Depot helped offset weakness elsewhere in the market. Â
Why Are US Stock Futures Falling Today?
The decline in U.S. stock futures comes as hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement have faded, raising concerns about a prolonged disruption to energy supplies. Brent crude climbed to around $91 per barrel, while the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2007. Higher oil prices have renewed concerns about inflation, while rising Treasury yields can put additional pressure on growth-oriented and technology stocks. Investors are also watching upcoming Federal Reserve meeting minutes for clues about the central bank’s interest-rate outlook.
Oil Prices Rise As Iran Tensions Persist
Brent crude futures rose 0.4% and remained around three-week highs, adding to concerns about renewed inflationary pressure. Reuters reported that Brent had settled at $90.87 per barrel on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate settled at $84.50. Higher energy prices can complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to manage inflation and may increase pressure on businesses and consumers.
Treasury Yields Hit Multi-Year Highs
U.S. government bond yields are another major focus for investors. The 30-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since 2007, while the 10-year yield remained near its highest level since January 2025.Higher yields can put pressure on growth and technology stocks because they increase borrowing costs and can reduce the present value investors assign to future corporate earnings.
Nvidia, Tesla And Chip Stocks Under Pressure
Big technology and semiconductor stocks were among the early decliners. Nvidia shares fell about 2% in premarket trading, while Tesla dropped around 1.4%. Micron Technology, Marvell Technology, AMD and Intel declined between 2% and 5%. Sandisk and Western Digital each fell about 6%. The weakness comes as investors continue to scrutinise the sustainability of heavy artificial-intelligence spending and the potential returns from the sector.
Home Depot Gains After Earnings
Home Depot provided some support to Dow futures. Shares of the home-improvement retailer rose 2.3% after the company reported second-quarter sales above Wall Street expectations. Walmart is also scheduled to report results on Thursday, putting the focus on the health of U.S. consumers and retail spending.
Fed Rate Outlook In Focus
Investors are also awaiting the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting, due Wednesday, for clues about the central bank’s assessment of inflation, economic growth and interest rates.Recent money-market pricing indicated that traders continued to see a high probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike by the end of the year, although expectations for an increase as early as September have eased following softer inflation data.
US Stock Market Today: What Investors Should Watch Today
The key factors likely to influence the U.S. stock market include:
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U.S.-Iran developments and the risk of further disruption around the Strait of Hormuz
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Brent crude and WTI oil prices
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U.S. Treasury yields
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Federal Reserve rate expectations
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Big Tech and semiconductor stocks
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Corporate earnings and consumer spending
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The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting minutes
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Nvidia’s earnings report next week
Despite the premarket weakness, Reuters quoted UBP Group CIO Michael Lok as saying earnings growth should remain an important driver of equity returns despite concerns surrounding the Federal Reserve, Middle East tensions and rising bond yields. Â
US Stock Market Today
The near-term direction of Wall Street is likely to remain sensitive to developments in the Middle East, movements in oil prices and changes in Treasury yields. At the same time, investors will be watching corporate earnings and the AI sector for signs that earnings growth can continue to support elevated equity valuations.
With the S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures lower and Dow futures relatively steady, Tuesday’s session could begin with investors taking a more defensive approach as they assess the latest geopolitical and inflation risks.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Stock prices and market conditions can change rapidly. Investors should conduct their own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.
