Stock Futures Rise on Iran Conflict Update, Oil Prices Climb (March 2026)

Stock futures rose in early Wednesday trading following reports that the United States has presented Iran with a 15-point plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures both advanced by roughly 0.7% as of 2:09 AM UTC, while futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 352 points, or 0.75%.

The gains followed a mixed regular session on Tuesday, where the S&P 500 slipped 0.37%, the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.84%, and the Dow fell 84.41 points, or 0.18%. Market movements have been heavily influenced by developments in the Middle East and signals from the Trump administration regarding potential negotiations with Iran.

President Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S. Is “in negotiations right now” with Iran, adding that Tehran is “talking sense” and appears willing to pursue a peace deal. This followed a Truth Social post on Monday in which Trump highlighted “very good and productive conversations” between the U.S. And Iran, leading to a surge in market optimism. However, Iranian state media subsequently denied reports of direct talks.

According to a report in The Fresh York Times, the U.S. Delivered a 15-point peace plan to Iran via Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon. The details of the plan have not been publicly released.

The market’s initial positive reaction to the news was tempered by earlier declines, reflecting ongoing volatility tied to the situation. Oil prices, a key indicator of geopolitical risk, had fallen on Monday but resumed their upward trend on Tuesday. Michael Kantrowitz, chief investment strategist at Piper Sandler, noted that oil prices and interest rates are currently the primary drivers of the equity market. He expressed greater concern over interest rates and the potential for persistent inflation than the overall health of the U.S. Economy, suggesting the economy could “handle $90, $100 oil.”

Investors are also focused on upcoming economic data, including February’s import and export price figures, scheduled for release on Wednesday. Earnings reports from Chewy and Paychex are expected before the market opens.