Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures extend losses amid US-Iran tensions

LIVE Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures extend losses amid US-Iran tensions Grace O'Donnell · Editor, Special Projects Updated Tue, August 18, 2026 at 12:34 PM GMT+2 1 min read US stock futures fell on Tuesday as rising tensions between the US and Iran revived inflation concerns, with elevated oil prices adding pressure. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( YM=F ) were flat, while those on the S&P 500 ( ES=F ) declined 0. 5%.

Contracts for the Nasdaq-100 ( NQ=F ) retreated 1%, leading the major indexes lower after a downbeat start to the trading week. Oil prices climbed to their highest level in over two weeks after President Trump said he intends to inflict more economic pain on Iran and threatened to "bomb" Oman if it interferes with the US's plans for the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude ( BZ=F ) futures, the international benchmark, hit $91 per barrel, and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude futures ( CL=F ) rose to $84 per barrel as the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve plunged to its lowest level since 1982 .

Rising oil, an AI borrowing spree , and concerns over government borrowing have also lifted bond yields globally. In the US, the 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX ) hit 4. 72%, and the 30-year yield ( ^TYX ) advanced to 5.

31%, a 19-year high. Earnings, meanwhile, have supported equities so far this reporting season. While the second quarter reporting period has slowed, a handful of reports from Home Depot ( HD ), Toll Brothers ( TOL ), and Klarna ( KLAR ), among others, are on deck.

LIVE 3 updates 1 hr ago Jared Blikre The bond market is daring the Fed to hike Wall Street is backing away from a September Fed hike. The bond market is going the other way. The implied chance of a hike at the Federal Reserve's Sept.

16 meeting has fallen from nearly 100% in late July to roughly one-third. Over the same stretch, the 30-year Treasury yield ( ^TYX ) has climbed from about 5. 09% to 5.

31%, its highest level since 2007. Chances of a September hike have plunged since late July, while the 30-year Treasury yield has climbed to 5. 31%.

· Bloomberg, Bianco Research, Yahoo Finance At first glance, those moves look backward. If investors expect less tightening from the Fed, longer-term borrowing costs might be expected to ease as well. Instead, they are rising.

That puts Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh back in an increasingly familiar spot, caught between what the central bank is doing and what financial markets appear to want. Read more. Today at 9:00 AM UTC Grace O'Donnell Good morning.

Here's what's happening today. Economic data: ADP weekly employment, Aug. 1 (+8,250 previously); New York Fed services, August (8.

7 previously); Import price index, month-on-month, July (+0. 1% expected, +0. 3% previously); Import price index, year-on-year, July (+7.

1% previously); Export price index, month-on-month, July (0% expected, -0. 6% previously); Export price index, year-on-year, July (+10. 2% previously); Housing starts, month-on-month, July (-5.

8% expected, +19% previously); Industrial production, month-on-month, July (+0. 3% expected, +0. 1% previously); Manufacturing production, month-on-month, July (+0.

2% expected, 0% previously); Earnings calendar: Home Depot ( HD ), Keysight Technologies ( KEYS ), Baidu, Inc. ( BIDU ), Pony AI ( PONY ), Toll Brothers ( TOL ), Urban Outfitters ( URBN ) Catch up on stories you might have missed overnight: Asia shares decline as worries about rising oil prices outweigh boost from strong earnings Meta stares down trillion-dollar threat as landmark social media trial begins Alphabet kicks off Aussie dollar bond sale as AI spending soars Google to buy Spirit Airlines business data for $10 million Americans could soon pay a lot more for strawberries Today at 8:00 AM UTC Grace O'Donnell Oil prices advanced for a third straight day on Tuesday after a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran expired, with neither party expressing interest in extending the blueprint for a truce. Brent ( BZ=F ) rose to $91, while West Texas Intermediate ( CL=F ) rose above $85 a barrel.

Bloomberg reports on the Middle East tensions driving oil prices: The two sides remain far apart on a host of issues, including the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is negotiating with Oman on how the critical waterway should be managed, although Washington is not part of those discussions. Other officials signaled Washington was in no hurry to end a conflict now approaching the end of its sixth month.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox News that the US was playing the long game with the Islamic Republic, while envoy Jared Kushner said Trump would be patient on a deal. Crude has rallied almost 50% this year as the war dragged on, impeding flows of energy from the Middle East. Still, Persian Gulf producers appear to be increasingly adept at shuttling oil through Hormuz to reach global customers.

Saudi Arabia is now offering cargoes from outside the chokepoint, a sign the kingdom may be following the United Arab Emirates in getting barrels out. Read more.