US Futures Fall as Investors Monitor Middle East Tensions, AI and Job Reports in Focus

U.S. stock index futures moved lower ahead of Tuesday’s session, with investors responding to geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran and key developments in the artificial intelligence sector. At 4:11 p.m. (Bangkok Time), S&P 500 futures slid 0.12%, Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.10%, while contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.25%. In post-market trading, Alphabet shares dropped after the company outlined a plan to raise $80 billion for advancing its AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, Hewlett Packard Enterprise surged over 20% on strong quarterly results that were lifted by increased demand for AI-related data center capacity. This activity followed a broad rally in technology shares on Monday, sparked by Nvidia’s introduction of a new chip designed for personal computers. The S&P 500 rose 0.26%, the Nasdaq Composite added 0.42%, and the Dow climbed 0.09%. Each of the major indices reached both intraday and closing records. Iranian media reported that Tehran would stop indirect communication with the U.S. regarding ongoing negotiations. Iranian outlets also stated intentions to close the Strait of Hormuz entirely and insisted that there would be no further dialogue unless Israeli military operations ceased in Lebanon and Gaza, and Israeli forces fully withdrew from Lebanese territory. Later, President Donald Trump announced a halt in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, and stated that discussions with Iran were progressing quickly. Looking ahead, the release of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on Tuesday will provide investors with new information on the labor market, the first in a series of employment-related reports due this week, which conclude with the May jobs report on Friday. Market participants are watching these data for signals of economic stress amid persistent inflation, an environment posing challenges for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy. Additionally, Dollar General, Victoria’s Secret, and Signet Jewelers are scheduled to disclose quarterly earnings before Tuesday’s markets open.