Nasdaq Futures exhibited an upward trend on Tuesday as investors prepared for President Trump’s imminent deadline regarding Iran’s access to the Strait of Hormuz, with potential military action aimed at critical infrastructure looming if compliance is not met.

Contracts on the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average nudged up roughly 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Nasdaq 100 futures hovered above the flat line after Wall Street stocks finished in positive territory on Monday.
Market participants are meticulously monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East. Trump has issued yet another 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the deadline set to lapse on Tuesday evening.

Trump communicated the deadline through Truth Social in a volatile message asserting, “Open the F*****’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah”. A proposal for peace, allegedly supported by Pakistan, is currently being evaluated in the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran. Investor sentiment seems to embody a cautious optimism regarding the potential for a near-term easing of tensions. Trump remarked, “Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home,” indicating a retreat from a ground campaign aimed at capturing Iran’s oil resources.

Brent crude oil futures, the international benchmark, fell 0.7% to about $109 a barrel as investors weighed the chances for deescalation of tensions. Meanwhile, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures traded broadly flat at around $112. On the economic front, preliminary figures for February durable goods orders are set to be released on Tuesday morning.