U.S. Stock Futures Rise Amid Middle East Tensions and Fed Meeting Ahead 
China's Economy Surges in Early 2026: Industrial Output and Retail Sales Beat Forecasts 
U.S. Dollar Slips as Iran War and Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid Iran Conflict and Fed Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Retreat as U.S.-Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Energy Markets 
RBA Raises Cash Rate to 4.10% in Closest Vote Since Transparent Voting Began 
China's New Home Prices Continue to Fall in February 2025 
Asian Equities Plunge as Energy Supply Shock Triggers $15B Capital Flight 
U.S. Presses South Korea on Strait of Hormuz Naval Support Amid Rising Energy Tensions 
Iran-U.S. War Escalates: Strait of Hormuz Shipping Under Threat 
Oil Prices Waver Amid U.S.-Israel Conflict with Iran and Strait of Hormuz Tensions 
Asia Stocks Rise Amid Central Bank Week and Middle East Tensions 
Iran-U.S. Military Escalation Shakes Persian Gulf and Global Oil Markets 
Bank of Japan Governor Signals Gradual Progress Toward 2% Inflation Target 
RBA Set to Hike Rates Again Amid Inflation Surge and Global Uncertainty 
U.S.-Iran War Pushes Brent Crude Back Above $100 as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Persist 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Oil Supply 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower Monday evening following a strong regular session rally driven by technology stocks, while oil prices eased slightly amid ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.2% to 6,745.0, Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.2% to 24,844.0, and Dow Jones Futures declined 0.2% to 47,207.0 around 8:24 PM ET.
Earlier in the session, all three major benchmarks posted solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.0%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.2%, with technology stocks leading the charge. Chipmakers were among the top performers after Nvidia's annual developer conference drew significant investor optimism. CEO Jensen Huang projected up to $1 trillion in cumulative orders for its Blackwell and Vera Rubin AI systems through 2027, boosting confidence across the semiconductor sector.
Easing crude oil prices also supported equities during the regular session, offering some relief after a prolonged surge tied to escalating Israel-Iran tensions. However, the conflict's third week kept markets on edge, as continued threats to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil transit corridor — raised supply concerns. President Donald Trump confirmed that a proposed coalition to protect oil tankers through the strait remains under discussion and has not been finalized.
Looking ahead, investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve's policy announcement scheduled for Wednesday. The Fed is broadly expected to hold interest rates steady as policymakers weigh persistent inflation risks against geopolitical headwinds. Markets will pay close attention to updated economic forecasts and any commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding the timeline for potential rate cuts. On the earnings front, Lululemon Athletica and DocuSign are set to report quarterly results Tuesday, adding another layer of market interest to an already event-heavy week.
