Wall St futures rise on Mideast deal hopes

U.S. stock index futures traded higher on Monday as investors responded to signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran. The move came ahead of a busy calendar of corporate earnings and economic data, with softer crude prices helping to support broader risk appetite.

At one cited point in premarket trade, Dow E‑mini contracts were up about 0.9%, or roughly 466 points. S&P 500 (SPX) E‑minis gained about 0.54%, or around 40.25 points, while Nasdaq‑100 (NDX) E‑minis were higher by about 0.28%, or 80.5 points, pointing to a positive open for Wall Street.

Brent crude (UKOIL) prices fell roughly 4–6% to trade near $83 a barrel on Monday, extending a retreat that followed comments from President Donald Trump about Iran. Trump said he had called off planned military strikes on Iran and indicated that talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz would take place on Monday.

The prospect of renewed negotiations over one of the world’s key energy chokepoints reduced immediate fears of supply disruption. Lower crude prices eased pressure on energy costs and contributed to the more optimistic tone in equity futures.

While Trump pointed to imminent talks with Iran, Tehran publicly pushed back on that characterization. Iran’s foreign ministry stated it was not currently holding negotiations with the United States, drawing a contrast with expectations of direct discussions.

Iranian officials said instead that discussions were underway with Oman, focused on agreeing a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz. The differing accounts underscored ongoing uncertainty around the diplomatic track, even as markets reacted to the reduced risk of immediate military action.

Beyond geopolitics, traders also monitored potential consolidation in the healthcare sector. Multiple reports indicated that AstraZeneca (AZN) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) had held early‑stage discussions about a possible combination.

The potential deal was described as being worth roughly $400 billion, although the talks were said to be preliminary and might not result in a transaction. Neither company confirmed the reported discussions, but the prospect of large‑scale healthcare merger activity added another factor shaping premarket stock moves.

The combination of easing oil prices and merger speculation supported a generally positive tone across markets at the start of the week. Lower crude helped to alleviate some concerns over energy‑driven inflation, while the possibility of major corporate activity directed attention to sector‑specific opportunities.

With major U.S. stock index futures in positive territory and geopolitical risks appearing less acute in the near term, investors positioned for a constructive open as they awaited a dense lineup of earnings releases and macroeconomic indicators in the days ahead.