On the morning of March 30, 2026, traders were busy on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
U.S. stock futures experienced a slight uptick on Monday night, coinciding with a drop in crude oil prices during overnight trading.
Futures associated with the S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures saw a 0.2% increase. Interestingly, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures reported a rise of 0.4% with 177 people, or so, becoming involved.
The decline in oil prices followed a report by the Wall Street Journal stating that President Donald Trump mentioned to aides he was open to concluding military actions in the Middle East, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly blocked.
In contrast, crude oil prices initially rose after Bloomberg noted an incident involving Iran and a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries, assuring the safety of all crew members.
Brent crude futures showed a 2% rise, while West Texas Intermediate futures, after a brief increase of 3%, fell by 0.82% and 0.66%, respectively.
During the regular market session on Monday, the S&P 500 index dipped by 0.39%, marking its third consecutive day of losses, and the Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.73%. However, the Dow bucked this downward trend, gaining 49.50 points or 0.11%.
Notably, the S&P 500 index is now just over 9% down from its recent closing high, with the technology sector being a key contributor, declining more than 1%. Market strategist Art Hogan from B. Riley Wealth Management mentioned that such pullbacks are often part of the market’s natural rhythm instead of being an unusual event.
He remarked, “It’s typical for investors to see a 10% adjustment from time to time. Generally, a correction of that nature occurs about every two years.” He emphasized that the volatility in stocks is essentially the cost of pursuing greater returns in the long run.
Hogan also pointed out, “There were hints of good news and a few positive days lately.”
Moreover, various elements on Monday reflected the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as Wall Street’s gauge of fear, surpassed 30 during trading, while U.S. oil prices saw an increase at the week’s start.
On a brighter note, there was news suggesting potential ending of conflicts in the Middle East. Trump alluded in social media posts to “significant progress” in negotiations with a new administration to cease military actions in Iran. He noted some easing of tensions, with Iran accepting parts of a U.S. plan aimed at ending the war and allowing additional oil vessels to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.
Furthermore, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reassured investors on Monday, indicating that the current inflation outlook is not worrisome and that rates wouldn’t be raised for now.
As the week progresses, traders will be keeping an eye on the consumer confidence data for March and the February JOLTS job report.
Correction: A previous version incorrectly stated that all three major averages fell during Monday’s session. Only the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index experienced losses.
