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Update: US Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell as Middle East Hostilities Resume, Oil Prices Rise

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(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)

US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Wednesday as hostilities between the US and Iran resumed after a two-day pause and oil prices jumped.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.7% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.1, and Nasdaq futures were 0.2% lower.

US Central Command said in a post on X that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missiles in an "attempted surprise attack" on US forces, which an Axios correspondent said was directed at a US base in Jordan. In a subsequent post, the command said that US and Saudi Arabian forces hit "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq in response to more than 30 Iran-directed drone attacks in the last 72 hours.

Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META) are expected to report their fiscal Q4 and Q2 earnings, respectively, after the market closes. For Microsoft, analysts polled by FactSet expect earnings of $4.24 per share on revenue of $87.62 billion. For Meta, analysts expect earnings of $7.19 per share on revenue of $60.22 billion.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 6.4% at $89.49 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 6.2% higher at $84.15 per barrel.

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to maintain the range for its federal funds rate at the current 3.50% to 3.75% for the fifth straight meeting, with the CME's FedWatch Tool seeing a 68.5% chance of no change to the current target range and a 31.5% chance of a 25-basis point increase to 3.75% to 4.00%.

The FOMC's statement following the meeting is due to be released at 2:00 pm ET, with Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's press conference scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm ET.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.5% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.4% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.3%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.2% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, energy-related stocks were on the upswing as oil prices increased. Exxon Mobil (XOM) shares rose 2.1%, Chevron (CVX) stock was 2% higher, and TotalEnergies (TTE) shares were up 2.2%. Seagate Technology (STX) stock was up 5.7% after the company reported fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue that surpassed analysts' estimates, as well as issuing a better-than-expected fiscal Q1 outlook.

On the losing side, Visa (V) shares were down 2.2% despite posting a fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue beat. Procter & Gamble (PG) stock was down 3.1% after the company reported fiscal Q4 net sales that fell short of analysts' consensus. KLA (KLAC) shares fell 8.9% despite posting fiscal Q4 non-GAAP earnings and revenue that beat analysts' estimates.

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Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Chipmakers Weigh Ahead of Mag-7 Results, Crude Oil Drops Amid Halt in Middle East Strikes

(Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data, and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as chipmakers pushed technology lower ahead of Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms' (META) quarterly results and a pause in strikes between Washington and Iran continued.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1% to 52,747.32, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% to 7,428.78 on Tuesday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 24,876.91. Energy and technology led the decliners while healthcare, consumer staples, and materials topped the gainers at the close.Microsoft and Meta, part of the so-called Magnificent-7 stocks known for their sway over indexes, are expected to report earnings after the bell on Wednesday.The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with net assets of $77.2 billion, slid 3.5% on Tuesday. Among companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, nine of the 10 worst performers were from the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment and materials industries, according to data compiled by Finviz. The steepest decliner in this category was SK Hynix (SKHY), down 9%.Shares of Corning (GLW), a supplier of cover glass to Apple (AAPL), sank 12%, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500, after the company reported Q2 results and set guidance for the next quarter.In geopolitical news, President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were continuing but again threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if no deal is made, CNN reported. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said Tehran was not negotiating with the US but added that "intermediaries may convey messages from the American side to us regarding ongoing developments in the region," Al Jazeera, a Middle East broadcaster, reported.Iran's military said any ships belonging to a country or company that's using frozen Iranian assets will be blocked from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, CNN cited Iranian state media as saying.Iran has rejected Trump's claim that ships damaged by Iran in the Gulf would be compensated from frozen Iranian funds. Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that any vessel taking such money will be banned from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate slumped 4.2% to $79.16 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent dropped 5% to $83.91 a barrel.US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 3.9 basis points to 4.6% and the two-year lower by 4.6 basis points to 4.28%.In precious metal markets, gold futures fell 1.3% to $4,022.9, and silver futures declined 2.4% to $57.33.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence decreased to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June, below the 92.4 expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose 0.6% in May, after a 0.8% increase in April, before seasonal adjustment. National home prices were up 1.1% year-over-year, up from 0.9% in April.The Dallas Federal Reserve's monthly general business services index rose to 6.6 in July from 2.9 in June, above expectations for a 3.8 reading in a Bloomberg-compiled poll, indicating faster expansion.The Richmond Fed's monthly manufacturing index rose to 5 in July from 4 in June, below expectations for 6 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$GLW$META$MSFT$SKHY$SMH
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Chipmakers Restrain Nasdaq, Crude Oil Slides

(Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data, and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed, as chipmakers continued to weigh on the Nasdaq Composite and crude oil slumped after a pause in Washington's strikes on Iran appeared to extend.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.3% to 52,877.4, with the S&P 500 up 0.4% to 7,442.7 after midday Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite was little changed at 24,933.8.Energy, technology, and industrials were the sole decliners while consumer staples, healthcare, and materials topped the gainers.VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with net assets of $77.2 billion, slumped 3%. Among companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, seven of the 10 worst performers were from the semiconductors and semiconductor equipment and materials industries, according to data compiled by Finviz.Shares of Corning (GLW) sank 16%, the worst performer on the S&P 500, after the company reported Q2 results and set guidance for the next quarter.In geopolitical news, President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were continuing but again threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if no deal is made, CNN reported. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said Tehran was not negotiating with the US but added that "intermediaries may convey messages from the American side to us regarding ongoing developments in the region," Al Jazeera, a Middle East broadcaster, reported.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate slumped 4.7% to $78.71 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent dropped 5.3% to $83.69 a barrel.US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 4.7 basis points to 4.59% and the two-year lower by 5.9 basis points to 4.26%.In precious metal markets, gold futures fell 1% to $4,038.2, and silver futures declined 1.8% to $57.64.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence decreased to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June, below the 92.4 expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose 0.6% in May, after a 0.8% increase in April, before seasonal adjustment. National home prices were up 1.1% year-over-year, up from 0.9% in April.Further in company news, IQVIA (IQV) reported a year-over-year increase in Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its 2026 outlook. Its shares surged 14%, the top gainer on the S&P 500.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$GLW$IQV$SMH
Asia Markets

Exchange-Traded Funds Rise, US Equities Mixed After Midday

Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV edged higher. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) eased 0.5%.US equity indexes traded mixed, as chipmakers continued to weigh on the Nasdaq Composite.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) fell about 1.4% each.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) shed 1.3%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) fell 0.8%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 1%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) slipped 3.9%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) fell 3.9%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) added 1.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) advanced 3.2%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), declined 3.1%.CommoditiesCrude oil dropped 5.8%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) fell 4.2%. Natural gas dipped 3.6%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) fell 2.7%.Gold on Comex fell 0.9%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) dipped 1.1%. Silver was down 1.9%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) lost 2%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) was up 2.1%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) added 2.1%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was up 2.2%.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was up 1.3%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) added 1.6%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) gained 1.9%.HealthcareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 2.2% and iShares US Healthcare (IYH) added 2.1%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) gained 2%. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.9%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) slipped 0.3%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.4% and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) rose 0.3%.CryptocurrencyIn midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 1.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) eased 1.2%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) was down 1.5%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 1.7% higher.

Dow Jones^EEM^EXI^FAS^FAZ^GLD^IBB^IGM^IGV^IPK^IVV^IWMNasdaq Composite^IYE^IYH^IYJ^IYK^IYW^PMR^QQQ^RTH^SOXXS&P 500^SPY^UNG^USO^VDC^VHT^VIS^XLE^XLF^XLI^XLK^XLP^XLV^XRT^XSD$BETH$BITO$EETH