Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Slip On Iran Risks, Fed Jitters Even As Oil Slips: Why NBIS, MU, MSTR, BMNR, NUAI Are In Focus

Published : Mar 17, 2026, 07:00 AM IST
https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/dow-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-slip-iran-risks-fed-jitters-oil-falls-nbis-mu-mstr-bmnr-nuai/cZ33VrxRIQO

Synopsis

Investors are now watching the Federal Reserve’s rate decision along with key U.S. economic data and earnings.

  • Major indexes rose in the prior session, with the S&P 500 posting its best day since February, led by gains in technology.
  • Oil prices dropped sharply after signs that Iranian tankers may pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Geopolitical tensions remained in focus, with continued attacks in the Persian Gulf and fresh remarks from Trump on Iran and Cuba adding to uncertainty.

U.S. stock futures traded lower Monday night as investors digested easing oil prices, geopolitical developments tied to the Iran conflict and fresh signals from Nvidia’s annual AI conference after a rebound on Wall Street earlier in the session.

As of 8.40 p.m. ET, Nasdaq 100, S&P 500 and Dow futures were all down 0.2%.

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment toward the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was ‘extremely bearish’ amid ‘high’ message volume, and sentiment toward the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) was ‘bearish’ amid ‘normal’ message volume.

US Market Drivers

Markets rebounded Monday as oil prices pulled back and tech shares led gains, helping Wall Street recover from last week’s losses tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In the prior session, U.S. stocks rebounded, with the S&P 500 posting its best day since February after closing the previous week at its lowest level of the year:

IndexMoveClose
Dow Jones Industrial Average0.83%46,946.41
S&P 5001.01%6,699.38
Nasdaq Composite1.22%22,374.18

Tech stocks led the move higher. Nvidia shares rose 1.6% after CEO Jensen Huang said at GTC 2026 that Nvidia expects at least $1 trillion in cumulative orders for its Blackwell and Rubin AI systems through 2027. Huang also unveiled new products and said computing demand has increased “1 million times in the last two years.”

Energy markets remained central to sentiment. Brent crude settled 2.8% lower at $100.21 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 5.3% to $93.5, easing after last week’s surge driven by fears the Strait of Hormuz could be disrupted during the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, now in its third week.

Oil declined after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iranian tankers were being allowed to transit the strait, though uncertainty remained after U.S. President Donald Trump said a coalition to escort ships through the route had not yet been finalized. Iran also launched fresh attacks across the Persian Gulf, while Trump said strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub remain under consideration.

Trump also heightened geopolitical tensions with remarks about Cuba, saying he believed he would have the “honor” of “taking Cuba” and that the U.S. could “do anything I want with it.”

Carson Wealth said in a Monday note that markets remain resilient despite mounting risks. “The fact [that] the S&P 500 is down only 2.9% for the year and less than 5% from the late January peak is really incredible,” the firm said, adding that “a sideways and choppy market since late October isn’t that abnormal.”

Investors are now looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision on Wednesday, with traders widely expecting policymakers to hold rates steady amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Trending Stocks To Watch On NYSE, Nasdaq

Nebius Group (NBIS): Shares hit their highest level in over four months on Monday after the company announced an AI infrastructure deal with Meta Platforms worth up to $15 billion, including deployment of Nvidia Corporation’s Vera Rubin platform.

Micron Technology (MU): Shares rose more than 2% in extended trading after the company began volume shipments of HBM4 memory designed for Nvidia’s next-generation AI chips, ahead of its earnings due Wednesday.

New Era Energy & Digital (NUAI): Shares gained 9% in after-hours trading as the company appointed Ted Warner as CFO, who most recently led Northland Capital Markets’ Energy, Power and Digital Infrastructure practice.

Strategy (MSTR): Shares posted their strongest session in over two weeks on Monday after the company disclosed a $1.5 billion Bitcoin purchase, while Executive Chairman Michael Saylor pushed back on claims that AI or quantum computing could undermine Bitcoin’s long-term investment case.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR): Shares logged their best day in over a month on Monday after the company added more than 60,000 Ethereum to its balance sheet, lifting total crypto holdings above $11.5 billion.

How Global Markets Are Performing Today

In broader markets, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was around 4.24%, while gold traded near $5,005 an ounce.

Asian markets opened higher, with gains in Japan and Hong Kong after the pullback in oil prices helped lift sentiment.

Among the catalysts for Tuesday are ADP employment data, the New York Fed’s services activity index, Redbook retail sales and pending home sales, along with U.S. Treasury auctions for 52-week and 6-week bills and a 20-year bond. Earnings are also due from Lululemon Athletica, DocuSign and Oklo.

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<

PREV

Stay updated with all the latest Business News, including market trends, Share Market News, stock updates, taxation, IPOs, banking, finance, real estate, savings, and investments. Track daily Gold Price changes, updates on DA Hike, and the latest developments on the 8th Pay Commission. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates to make informed financial decisions. Download the Asianet News Official App from the Android Play Store and iPhone App Store to stay ahead in business.

Recommended Stories

CWCO Stock Dives 16% After-Hours On FY25 Revenue Miss
Uber To Deploy Nvidia-Powered Robotaxis Across 28 Cities Worldwide: Retail Terms Stock A ‘Long Term Hold’