US stock futures leaned lower on Friday as investors monitored the shaky pause in hostilities between Washington and Tehran, with the market showing signs of caution.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) slipped roughly 0.2%, after solid closing gains pushed the blue-chip index into positive territory for 2026. Contracts on the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) also dropped 0.1% after the indexes notched their seventh winning day in a row.
With the two-week US-Iran ceasefire still holding, investors are focused on the tentative beginnings of diplomatic mediation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to begin negotiations with Lebanon after Iranian officials accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire and shut the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has reissued threats against Iran following news that Tehran will toll tankers attempting to pass through the waterway.
Peace talks are slated to occur this weekend following senior White House officials calling Netanyahu on Wednesday, asking Israel to scale back its strikes on Lebanon. Israel’s official response stated, “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon.”
Looking ahead, investors will turn their attention to economic data releases, including the March consumer price index. Economists expect inflation to rise 0.9% month over month and 3.3% from a year earlier.
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