Nasdaq 100 Futures Rise Amid Middle East Tensions... What's Next After Trump's Decision?

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New York stock futures showed a widespread increase despite heightened military tensions in the Middle East. As U.S. President Donald Trump deliberates on a military strike against Iran, strong corporate earnings and merger and acquisition news are driving index gains.

According to Benzinga on September 18 (local time), Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.11% to $45,901.00. S&P 500 futures traded up 0.13% at $6,654.50, and Nasdaq 100 futures also increased by 0.20% to $24,289.75. With safe-haven demand, gold prices rose 0.23% to $3,678.90 per ounce. In the crude oil market, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures traded up 0.54% to $64.33 per barrel.

U.S. President Trump is closely reviewing military response options following Iran's attack on Israel. Through his social media platform Truth Social, Trump hinted at the possibility of strong action, stating, "America is facing a very serious decision." White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz appeared on major U.S. broadcasts, emphasizing that "all response options are on the table, including not only Iranian military facilities but also energy production infrastructure." Military tensions have reached their peak, with a squadron of U.S. strategic bombers B-2 Spirit being forward-deployed to Diego Garcia base near the Middle East.

Despite geopolitical risks, major technology and defense stocks showed strong upward momentum. Oklo (OKLO), a developer of next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), saw its stock price surge 9% on news of a large-scale radioactive isotope production and supply contract with Fermi America. Expectations for new nuclear power infrastructure construction, in line with surging power demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, drove buying interest.

Among individual stocks, cybersecurity firm BlackBerry (BB) rose over 4% after successfully turning a profit in the second quarter. In contrast, fast-food franchise McDonald's (MCD) showed a slight decline of less than 1% amid news of major management changes. Steel company Nucor (NUE) fell about 2% after significantly lowering its third-quarter earnings forecast due to declining product prices caused by an influx of imported steel.

Even amidst the threat of a full-scale war in the Middle East, robust bargain hunting is flowing into energy infrastructure, advanced nuclear power, and security technology stocks. The level of the Trump administration's final military action decision and international oil price volatility are considered key variables that will determine whether the New York stock market will see a further rally.

[Article Key Summary]

-S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures rose as U.S. President Trump reviews a decision on military strikes against Iran.

-Despite tensions including the forward deployment of U.S. bombers and rising oil prices, Oklo (OKLO) surged 9%, leading the strong performance.

-Strong individual earnings, such as BlackBerry (BB)'s return to profitability, are combining to defend against downward pressure on the New York stock market.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*