Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on July 8, 2026 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images
U.S. futures rose early Thursday as stock markets appear poised for a recovery despite a flare-up in tensions between the U.S. and Iran and soaring oil prices.
S&P500 futures It was 0.3% higher. futures tied to Dow Jones Industrial Average It rose 81 points, or about 0.15%. Nasdaq 100 futures It increased by 0.61%.
European stocks also rallied on Thursday, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index up 0.5% and most regional stock exchanges and sectors higher as investors closely watched renewed tensions in the Middle East.
France’s Cac40 and Germany’s DAX were each up 0.6% in early trading, while London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.2%. Tech and mining stocks led gains across the continent, while healthcare and consumer staples stocks lagged broader indexes.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei stock average closed 1.4% higher, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.62% in volatile trading. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.5% in the last hour of trading on Thursday, while mainland China’s CSI300 index ended 2.5% higher.
U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday afternoon that the United States has launched a new offensive against Iran in response to the Iranian government’s attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil Futures It last rose nearly 1%.
Earlier, President Donald Trump said he may no longer be interested in negotiating a deal with Iran. Earlier, he said the ceasefire between the US and Iranian governments was “over” following a new wave of attacks in the Middle East.
“The assumption that Persian Gulf exports will quickly return to normality is certainly in question,” said Mason Mendez, global real estate analyst at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. “Given already low global reserves and reduced supply buffers due to inventories, further escalation is likely to further increase the geopolitical risk premium for oil prices, even if negotiations are eventually resumed.”
In normal transactions, Dow It decreased by 576.76 points (1.1%). S&P500 It fell by 0.28%. Rising oil prices weighed on both indexes. of Nasdaq CompositeHowever, buoyed by gains in Nvidia and other chip stocks, the 0. It rose by 2%.
On Thursday, traders will focus on the weekly unemployment claims report at 8:30 a.m. ET and used home sales at 10 a.m. ET. pepsico We will also report earnings before the bell.
“Going into Thursday, oil prices will be the biggest concern,” Mendez said. “While these new geopolitical risks could fuel near-term risk-off sentiment, strong momentum in equity returns and continued AI strength could continue to propel the S&P 500 toward its year-end target range of 7,800-8,000.”
