$THO

Stocks Mostly Down Pre-Bell as Traders Assess Latest Middle East Developments

The main US stock measures were mostly trending lower in Wednesday's premarket activity as traders assess the latest developments in the Middle East.The S&P 500 edged down 0.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.4%, while the Nasdaq gained 0.2% before the opening bell. All three indexes recorded new closing highs on Tuesday.President Donald Trump said in a podcast interview that Iran has agreed not to have nuclear weapons, several media outlets reported Wednesday. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said negotiations between the US and Iran were "going on continuously."Earlier in the week, Iranian state-affiliated outlet Tasnim reported that the country suspended talks with the US in retaliation to Israel's military action in Lebanon.The US Central Command said Tuesday that its forces "successfully defeated" multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones and launched defensive strikes following "attempted attacks" by Tehran across the Middle East.Iran reportedly launched a wave of missile and drone attacks toward Kuwait and Bahrain in a major escalation of regional tensions. Kuwait said a number of "hostile drones" targeted its airport, causing significant material damage and injuring several people.West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased 2.6% to $96.17 a barrel in premarket action, while Brent advanced 2.5% to $98.42."Crude oil continues to trade from one headline to the next, making it increasingly difficult for traders to maintain conviction beyond a few hours," Saxo Bank said in a Tuesday report. "Global energy markets continue to tighten, with the main focus remaining on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping artery that remains effectively shut, sustaining concerns about supply disruptions and elevated energy prices."Treasury yields were up before the open, with the two-year rate rising 2.9 basis points to 4.08% and the 10-year rate adding 3 basis points to 4.49%.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on Wednesday cut its global growth outlook for 2026, warning that a prolonged war between the US and Iran could have "longer-lasting negative consequences."The ADP Employment report for May is out at 8:15 am ET. On Tuesday, official data showed that US job openings hit their highest level in almost two years in April, while hiring and layoffs fell.Wednesday's economic calendar also has the weekly mortgage applications bulletin at 7 am. The purchasing managers' index composite final report from S&P Global (SPGI) for May posts at 9:45 am, followed by the Institute for Supply Management's services index for the same month at 10 am.The weekly EIA domestic petroleum inventories report is due at 10:30 am. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book, a compilation of economic and business reports from the 12 regional Fed branches, is out at 2 pm.Fed Governor Michael Barr is scheduled to speak at 9 am, while Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan speaks at 4 pm.The Fed may need to raise interest rates should inflationary pressures persist, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said Tuesday. "If we wait for definitive evidence that high inflation has become embedded in the economy, it may require larger policy adjustments, at greater cost," Hammack said in prepared remarks for an event in Ohio.Shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) declined 3.7% pre-bell following the company's latest quarterly results. Marvell Technology (MRVL) climbed 14% after Nvidia (NVDA) Chief Executive Jensen Huang reportedly said the company could be the next chip manufacturer to join the trillion-dollar club.Broadcom (AVGO), CrowdStrike (CRWD), Veeva Systems (VEEV) and Five Below (FIVE) are expected to release their latest earnings after the markets close. Medtronic (MDT), Macy's (M), Ollie's Bargain Outlet (OLLI) and Thor Industries (THO) post their financial results before the bell, among others.Gold slipped 0.7% to $4,488 per troy ounce, while bitcoin inched 0.3% higher to $67,127.