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Stock futures are little changed after Dow posts best day since April 2025 following ceasefire deal: Live updates
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Stock futures are little changed after Dow posts best day since April 2025 following ceasefire deal: Live updates

#stock futures #ceasefire #Strait of Hormuz #market rally #PCE inflation #Iran #Dow Jones #Federal Reserve

๐Ÿ“Œ Key Takeaways

  • U.S. stock futures were flat overnight after the Dow Jones posted its best day since April 2025, surging over 1,300 points.
  • The rally was triggered by a fragile two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal aimed at reopening the closed Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran later accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire, citing Israeli actions and airspace incursions, casting doubt on the truce's stability.
  • Market strategists warn risks persist, with traders now focused on upcoming PCE inflation data and jobless claims.

๐Ÿ“– Full Retelling

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Wednesday night, February 18, 2026, following a historic market rally earlier in the day, as investors digested a fragile two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran brokered by President Donald Trump to de-escalate a five-week conflict that had closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had surged more than 1,300 points, or 2.85%, during the regular session for its best performance since April 2025, propelled by the announcement of the temporary truce. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also posted significant gains of 2.51% and 2.8%, respectively. However, the initial optimism was tempered by minor overnight declines in index futures and fresh accusations from Iran that the U.S. had already violated the ceasefire terms. The ceasefire, announced by President Trump via a Truth Social post on Tuesday night, was contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil chokepoint. Tehran agreed to open the waterway for two weeks provided all attacks ceased, a move also reportedly backed by Israel. The agreement was framed as a "double sided" pause to allow negotiations based on a 10-point proposal from Iran. However, the deal's fragility was highlighted hours later when Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, publicly accused the U.S. of violations, citing continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, a drone incursion into Iranian airspace, and disputes over uranium enrichment rights. Market strategists cautioned that significant risks remain despite the day's powerful rally. Eric Johnston, chief equity and macro strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald, noted on CNBC's 'Closing Bell: Overtime' that with multiple players involved and the Strait of Hormuz not yet functionally open, the situation remains precarious. He characterized the market rebound as a potential buying opportunity but warned that the coming weeks would be critical in determining whether the ceasefire holds. Traders are now turning their attention to key economic data due Thursday morning, including the 8:30 a.m. ET release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price indexโ€”the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gaugeโ€”and weekly jobless claims, which could provide the next catalyst for market direction.

๐Ÿท๏ธ Themes

Geopolitical Risk, Market Volatility, Macroeconomic Data

๐Ÿ“š Related People & Topics

Iran

Iran

Country in West Asia

# Iran **Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...

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Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve

Central banking system of the US

The Federal Reserve System (often shortened to the Federal Reserve, or simply the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, after a series of financial panics (particularly the panic of 1907) led to th...

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Dow Jones

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# Dow Jones **Dow Jones** is a prominent financial information and publishing brand, named after its founding business partners, **Charles Dow** and **Edward Jones**. Historically, the name is synonymous with the development of modern financial journalism and market analysis. ### Etymology and Ori...

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Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz

Strait between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf

The Strait of Hormuz ( Persian: ุชู†ฺฏู‡ู” ู‡ูุฑู…ูุฒ Tangeh-ye Hormoz , Arabic: ู…ูŽุถูŠู‚ ู‡ูุฑู…ูุฒ Maแธฤซq Hurmuz) is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. ...

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Mentioned Entities

Iran

Iran

Country in West Asia

Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve

Central banking system of the US

Dow Jones

Dow Jones

List of mass media-related articles with the same name

Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz

Strait between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This news is critical because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz poses a severe threat to global oil supplies and economic stability, making the ceasefire a pivotal moment for international markets. The resolution of this conflict affects not only geopolitical security in the Middle East but also inflation rates and consumer prices worldwide. For investors, the market's sharp reaction highlights how sensitive equities are to foreign policy developments, while the fragility of the truce suggests that volatility could return quickly if the agreement collapses.

Context & Background

  • The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime chokepoint between Iran and Oman through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes.
  • Prior to this deal, a five-week conflict had forced the closure of the waterway, raising fears of a global energy crisis.
  • Tensions between the U.S., Iran, and Israel have historically centered around Iran's nuclear program, specifically uranium enrichment rights.
  • The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is the Federal Reserve's preferred metric for measuring inflation, influencing interest rate decisions.
  • President Trump announced this specific deal via his social media platform, Truth Social, continuing a trend of direct public communication regarding major policy.

What Happens Next

Traders will closely monitor Thursday morning's economic releases, specifically the PCE price index and weekly jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET. Market participants will watch for physical confirmation that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to commercial shipping traffic. Diplomatic efforts will likely intensify to address Iran's accusations of ceasefire violations and the 10-point proposal for long-term negotiations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the Dow to have its best day since April 2025?

The massive rally was driven by the announcement of a temporary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which raised hopes that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and ease global energy supply concerns.

Why is the ceasefire considered fragile?

The deal is considered fragile because Iran accused the U.S. of violations almost immediately after it was announced, citing continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon and drone incursions into Iranian airspace.

What are analysts saying about the market rebound?

Strategists like Eric Johnston of Cantor Fitzgerald view the rebound as a potential buying opportunity but warn that the situation remains precarious because the waterway is not yet functionally open.

What economic data is due out next?

Investors are awaiting the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index and weekly jobless claims on Thursday morning.

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Original Source
U.S. stock futures were little changed on Wednesday night after a massive comeback following President Donald Trump's decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.1%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 10 points, or less than 0.1%. During Wednesday's regular session, the S&P 500 climbed 2.51%, and the Nasdaq Composite popped 2.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged more than 1,300 points, or 2.85%, for its best day since April 2025 โ€” back when Trump softened his stance on some of his lofty initial tariffs. On Tuesday night, Trump agreed to pause attacks on Iran. The Middle Eastern conflict has been going on for five weeks and has resulted in the closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. "I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post . "We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." The "double sided" ceasefire, however, was contingent on Iran agreeing to reopening the strait. Tehran agreed to reopen the waterway for the next two weeks as long as all attacks are halted, according to a statement from Iran's Foreign Minister. Media reports said that Israel has also agreed to the ceasefire. But later on Wednesday, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of already violating the ceasefire agreement . The violations are Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, a drone's entry into Iranian airspace and the denial of the Islamic Republic's right to enrich uranium, he said. Even as the market rebounded on Wednesday, there are still potential pitfalls around negotiations in the Middle East, according to Eric Johnston, chief equity and macro strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald. He spoke on CNBC's " Closing Bell: Overtime " Wednesday afternoon. "I do think, from a short-term perspective, that there are still risks that are still there," he said. "You hav...
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