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U.S. stock index futures held steady Thursday evening as markets entered a cautious holding pattern before the Good Friday holiday closure, with traders weighing Middle East tensions and positioning ahead of a critical jobs report.
S&P 500 futures hovered near 6,624.50 points, Nasdaq 100 futures held at 24,223.00, and Dow Jones futures were largely unchanged at 46,748.0 points as of 8:19 PM ET. The muted overnight activity followed a mixed regular session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 closed nearly flat, the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%.
Markets swung between gains and losses throughout Thursday's session, driven largely by geopolitical headlines. Sentiment turned more positive in afternoon trading after Iran's foreign ministry announced it was working with Oman to develop a protocol governing shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz — a strategically critical waterway for global oil flows. Earlier, however, remarks from President Donald Trump, who indicated that U.S. attacks on Iran could intensify over the next few weeks, rattled investor confidence and triggered volatility across stocks, commodities, and currency markets.
With geopolitical uncertainty still simmering, all eyes are now turning to Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report — one of the most closely watched economic indicators for Federal Reserve policy signals. Economists and traders alike will parse the data for clues about labor market health. A stronger-than-expected result could fuel expectations that the Fed will keep interest rates elevated longer, while disappointing figures may revive speculation about rate cuts later in 2025.
Adding another layer of complexity, trading volumes are expected to remain thin due to the Good Friday market holiday, a condition that can magnify price swings on limited activity. Investors are advised to monitor developments closely as the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.
