Stock futures fell sharply Sunday night as geopolitical risks rose, shaking investor confidence at the start of the week.
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) fell about 0.8%. Contracts linked to the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) also fell 0.7%.
The withdrawal comes after a rapid escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump said in a Sunday Truth Social post that an Iranian ship, TOUSKA, had been intercepted by US naval forces.
The president wrote: ‘The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them in their tracks by opening a hole in the engine room. At this time, the US Marines have custody of the ship.
In subsequent posts on Truth Social, Trump warned: ‘NO MORE MR. GOOD BOY!’ if Tehran does not accept US demands, with threats to attack Iranian civil and energy infrastructure.
Oil markets reacted immediately. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude (CL=F) rose around 6.9% to trade just below $90 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent crude (BZ=F) rose a similar margin to near $95, reflecting renewed concerns about supply disruptions in the region.
Heading into the week, investors will be looking at another busy run of results, with big names like Tesla (TSLA), Intel (INTC) and United Airlines (UAL) due to report in the coming days, offering the next test for markets navigating record stock rises and increasing geopolitical risk.
Stock coverage for Monday, April 20, 2026.