Stocks Mostly Up Pre-Bell as Traders Assess Middle East Developments, Await Key Inflation Data
The benchmark US stock measures were mostly pointing higher before the opening bell Monday as traders monitor the latest developments in the Middle East and await key inflation data later in the week.The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% and the Nasdaq increased 0.4% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%. The indexes finished Friday trading in the green, with the S&P 500 notching a new closing high.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Tehran isn't in direct talks with Washington to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, CNBC reported, citing state media. Araghchi noted that the US will still have to meet Iran's conditions to open the strait, even if a deal is finalized with Oman on the crucial waterway.West Texas Intermediate crude oil inclined 0.9% to $78.85 a barrel before the open, while Brent gained nearly 1% to $84.38.President Donald Trump has signaled that he's prepared to let economic pressure take its toll on Iran instead of mounting another military attack, Axios reported Sunday."We are low-keying it," Trump reportedly said in a phone call, according to Axios. "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money."With no major economic data scheduled for Monday, traders await the consumer price index for July on Wednesday, followed by wholesale prices and retail sales for the same month on Thursday and Friday, respectively.US Treasury yields were mixed in premarket action, with the two-year rate nudging 0.6 basis points higher to 4.21% while the 10-year rate retreated 0.4 basis points to 4.66%.Last week, official data showed that nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly fell in July, marking the first decline since February. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.1%, the lowest since June 2025 when it stood at the same level.Ferguson Enterprises (FERG), Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) and monday.com (MNDY) report their latest financial results before the bell, among others. Rocket Lab (RKLB) and Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) post their earnings after the markets close.Shares of Plug Power (PLUG) advanced 5% pre-bell while Palantir Technologies (PLTR) was off 1.4% following a 10% jump at the close of Friday. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) climbed 3.2%.Gold inched up 0.1% to $4,402 per troy ounce, while bitcoin slipped 0.3% to $64,972.
