U.S. stock futures rebounded slightly, escalating Middle East tensions pushed up oil prices, and the AI sector supported the strength of tech stocks.

Mars Finance News, July 9 — U.S. stock index futures were modestly higher ahead of the open. S&P 500 index futures rose 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.61%, while Dow futures were essentially flat. With markets facing renewed escalation in the U.S.-Iran situation and rising international oil prices, investors are betting that technology stocks will drive a rebound in U.S. equities. Most major European indices moved higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 1.4%, South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.62%, China’s CSI 300 (A-shares) closed up 2.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged lower.

On the news front, the U.S. announced that it would carry out a new round of strikes against Iran in response to an attack on merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz. WTI crude oil futures once rose nearly 1%. U.S. President Trump previously said that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire “is already over,” adding that he may no longer intend to continue negotiations with Iran. Markets are concerned that ongoing supply risks in the Strait of Hormuz will persist, further pushing up global energy prices and the geopolitical risk premium.

In terms of institutional views, the U.S. bank investment research institute said that if the situation in the Middle East escalates further, oil prices may continue to maintain a relatively high risk premium against the backdrop of low global crude inventories. However, growth in corporate earnings and the AI investment boom are still expected to provide support for U.S. stocks, and it is expected that the S&P 500 will still have a chance to rise to the 7800 to 8000 point range by year-end. The market today will also watch U.S. initial jobless claims data, existing home sales data, and PepsiCo’s earnings report.