US stock futures slipped late Tuesday following a whipsaw day on Wall Street as markets continue to be unsettled by conflict in the Middle East.
Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) edged down roughly 0.2%. Futures linked to the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) each declined about 0.2%.
The pullback in futures comes after major benchmarks finished Tuesday lower, though well above their intraday troughs. The S&P 500 (^GSPC), the Dow (^DJI) and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) all fell close to 1%.
Geopolitical tensions added to the volatility. Trump announced on Truth Social that the US would extend risk insurance to maritime trade through the Persian Gulf in a bid to restore tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Vessel traffic had stalled after threats from Iran targeting ships attempting to travel the channel.
Oil prices surged on the developments. Brent crude oil futures settled up 4.7% (BZ=F), as West Texas Intermediate futures (CL=F) also made gains of around 4.7%. Gas prices nationally have seen a rise in line with the oil surge, as consumers are being prepped for fast price changes.
Looking ahead, investors can look to Wednesday’s ADP private payrolls report for a labor market health check. Earnings take on a muted focus this week, with reports from Broadcom (AVGO), Costco (COST) and Alibaba (BABA) highlighting the coming days.
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Stock market coverage for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.