Dow futures climb, Nasdaq dips, and oil prices increase as unrest continues in Iran

US Stock Futures Mixed Amid Middle East Tensions

On Friday morning, futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched upward, supported by strong performances in the defense and energy sectors. In contrast, Nasdaq futures dipped as traders weighed the inflationary risks posed by escalating unrest in Iran and the possibility of conflict in the Middle East.

The Iranian government is currently facing its most significant internal challenge in decades, which has contributed to a rise in crude oil prices due to concerns over potential supply interruptions.

Major Index Futures Performance

On Thursday, both the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF, which mirror the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 respectively, ended the session lower. SPY slipped 0.01% to $689.51, while QQQ fell 0.60% to $620.47.

Oil Prices Surge on Fears of Iranian Instability

February contracts for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 0.64% to $58.13 per barrel, breaking a recent downward trend.

Market participants are actively seeking protection against the risk of the Strait of Hormuz being blocked or Iranian oil facilities being damaged, especially after President Donald Trump indicated that the United States might step in to support protestors in Iran. The Iranian authorities have responded to the unrest by imposing a nationwide internet shutdown, which has sharply increased the risk premium in energy markets.

Precious Metals Ease After Reaching New Highs

Although precious metals have benefited from their reputation as safe-haven assets throughout the week, both gold and silver experienced modest declines on Friday after reaching record levels.

Spot gold was last seen at $4,460.77, down 0.37%, but remains close to its 52-week high near $4,550. Silver also slipped, falling 0.61% to $76.53.

According to Rahul Kalantri, VP Commodities at Mehta Equities Ltd., “Gold finds support between $4,410 and $4,355, with resistance in the $4,525 to $4,560 range. Silver’s support lies at $75.10 to $73.45, while resistance is expected between $80.05 and $82.40.”

Bitcoin Remains Unstable

In cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin hovered around $90,873, marking a slight 0.19% decline over the past 24 hours.

The digital asset has experienced increased price swings after reports surfaced that Iran’s Ministry of Defence is attempting to convert military assets into cryptocurrency to circumvent international sanctions.

While these developments highlight crypto’s ability to bypass traditional financial systems, they have also fueled regulatory concerns, keeping Bitcoin’s price below the $100,000 mark for now.

Key Market Quotes

• Bitcoin: $91,043.00 (+0.02%)
• Invesco QQQ Trust: $620.10 (-0.06%)
• SPDR S&P 500: $689.47 (-0.01%)

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