Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures stall in cautious wait for inflation print, Iran peace talks
US stock futures hit pause on Friday as investors waited for weekend talks that could cement the shaky Iran war ceasefire, with a war-tinged update on US consumer inflation on deck.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) traded broadly flat, 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) were also little changed on the heels of a seventh winning day in a row.
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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