Traders are gearing up as MDA Space Ltd commences sales on the New York Stock Exchange, with activities expected to pick up during the morning trading hours on March 12, 2026. This notable event coincides with movements in the broader stock market as traders digest recent geopolitical developments.
On Thursday night, stock futures experienced a modest uptick following remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which appeared to mitigate some concerns regarding the ongoing tensions surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 111 points, a gain of 0.2%. Similarly, S&P 500 futures increased by approximately 0.3%, while Nasdaq-100 futures added 0.2%.
Despite the gains in futures, Thursday’s stock market session concluded with losses, though the declines were less severe than earlier in the day. Netanyahu’s statements indicated that Israel is providing the United States with support in intelligence and other resources aimed at reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz. He remarked that Iran has lost its capacity to enrich uranium and develop ballistic missiles, suggesting that the conflict could potentially resolve quicker than many have anticipated. Following his comments, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures saw a sharp decline as they settled, which contributed to a rebound in stock prices from the day’s lows. Nonetheless, WTI remains significantly higher for the month, up more than 48%.
Market analysts highlighted that future market movements will hinge largely on the situation at the Strait of Hormuz. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, expressed optimism, predicting that the Strait could be reopened within weeks, rather than months.
Despite the bounce-back in futures, major stock indices are still on track for their fourth consecutive week of losses. The S&P 500 and Dow are entering Friday’s trading down 0.4% and 1.2%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite has declined by 0.1%. Additionally, both the Dow and Nasdaq are approaching correction territory, with the Dow sitting 8.3% below its record close from February 10, and the Nasdaq nearly 8% shy of its all-time high from October 29.
Even as the S&P 500 remains about 5% off its all-time high, Unlimited CEO Bob Elliott expressed skepticism about the market’s optimistic outlook regarding the potential effects of the conflict on corporate earnings and the broader economy. In an interview, he stated, “When you look at stocks compared to bonds, the markets are pricing in stronger growth since the beginning of this conflict. That doesn’t make any sense. Households are effectively losing 1% to 2% of their real purchasing power, even if this conflict resolves tomorrow.”
