U.S. futures advanced early Wednesday, building on strong gains from the previous session after President Donald Trump revealed plans to withdraw American forces from Iran within weeks. The prospect of ending the recent hostilities boosted investor confidence across major US equity benchmarks.
At 4:20 p.m. (Bangkok Time), S&P 500 futures climbed 0.33%, the Nasdaq 100 futures increased 0.5%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advanced 0.37%. The gains came on the heels of a strong session on Wall Street on Tuesday, as equity markets responded favorably to indications of a resolution in the month-long conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
President Trump stated Tuesday that the U.S. military would depart Iran within two to three weeks, asserting that American objectives—including curbing Iran’s nuclear program and achieving a regime change—had been met. He noted that Iran was not required to accept an agreement to conclude hostilities, and clarified that the U.S. would not seek to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.
Market optimism was further supported after a report suggested that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian might consider ending the conflict if provided with sufficient guarantees. Earlier in the month, Pezeshkian posted on X that ending the conflict would require international recognition of Iran’s rights, compensation, and assurances against future aggression.
U.S. stocks surged during Tuesday’s session, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 2.49%. The S&P 500 added 2.91%, while the Nasdaq Composite outpaced both with a 3.83% gain—a daily performance not seen since May for any of the three indices. The rebound was fueled by renewed interest from bargain hunters following March’s declines, particularly in the technology sector, which had been under pressure due to questions about long-term demand for artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
As the second quarter gets underway, market participants are awaiting earnings from companies including Conagra, Lamb Weston, and Cal-Maine Foods, due before Wednesday’s opening. Investors are also monitoring key economic indicators set for release: February retail sales, March’s ADP private employment data, and the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing report for March.
President Trump is scheduled to deliver a national address regarding developments in Iran at 9.00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday (Thursday 8.00 a.m. Bangkok Time).
