Stock market today: Live updates Stock futures remained flat Friday as investors awaited key U.S. inflation data, with traders closely watching oil prices and the ongoing Iran war. The report comes amid surging oil prices, which have continued to pressure stocks following Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a tool to pressure adversaries. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 29 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were unchanged. Stocks were down after a losing session on Thursday, as oil prices spiked following Khamenei’s remarks. Chris Toomey, managing director at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, highlighted the energy situation as a major concern, noting that sustained impairment of the Strait of Hormuz beyond two or three months could pose a significant risk. Rising crude prices and inflation fears have also dampened expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year. Traders now anticipate only one cut in 2026, scheduled for December, according to the CME gauge. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the January personal consumption expenditures price index, is due Friday, with the consensus expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and 2.9% annual rise in headline PCE. Core PCE, which excludes energy and food, is projected to rise 0.4% for the month and 3.1% year-over-year. European stocks opened lower as oil prices remained above $100 a barrel, with the Stoxx 600 down 0.9% in early London trading. Brent crude climbed to $102.36, driven by a U.S. waiver allowing Russian oil to transit at sea, aimed at mitigating fears of a supply shock in the Strait of Hormuz. Asia-Pacific markets also fell, with Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 down 0.#strait_of_hormuz #mujtaba_khamenei #chris_toomey #morgan_stanley_private_wealth_management #jerome_powell
