Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures flat as Wall Street weighs prospects for Iran truce

Wed, March 25, 2026 at 6:51 PM EDT 1 min read

US stock futures were largely flat Wednesday evening as investors kept a close eye on unfolding developments in the Middle East, with markets balancing cautious optimism against ongoing uncertainty surrounding Iran.

Futures linked to the S&P 500 (ES=F) and Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) edged slightly lower, while Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) futures dipped slightly, reflecting a muted overnight tone.

Markets continue to be driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran. Fears of a recession are building as the lack of stability in oil prices has caused havoc for already rattled consumers. Conflicting reports of potential peace talks have dominated attention this week, with President Trump claiming the existence of a specific plan for peace — only to rebuffed when Iran’s foreign minister signaled that formal negotiations with the US are not currently on the table.

Despite last week’s sharp sell-off driven by rising geopolitical tensions, equities have rebounded, pushing major averages higher for the week so far, on track to break a four-week run of losses.

Oil markets reflected tentative hopes for de-escalation. West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) crude futures settled at $90.32 per barrel, while Brent (BZ=F) crude declined to $102.22, as traders dialed back some of the risk premium tied to supply disruptions.

Looking ahead, investors will turn their attention to economic data, with initial jobless claims for the week due Thursday morning. Earnings have mostly finished for the season, with Carnival (CCL) highlighting reports for the week due before the market opens Friday.