Dow Jones futures rose 0.61% to about 50,300 in European hours on Thursday after reports the US military had concluded its latest strikes on Iran. S&P 500 futures gained 0.67% to roughly 7,330, while Nasdaq 100 futures added 1.03% to near 28,850. The move followed warnings issued by Israel’s Home Front Command after rockets were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, and came after fresh US attacks on Iran, prompted by President Trump’s accusation that Tehran was delaying talks over an interim peace agreement.
The rebound in futures followed a sharp Wednesday session in cash equities, when the Dow fell 1.87%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.62% and the Nasdaq 100 slid 1.98%, with technology and semiconductor shares pressured by concerns over bloated AI valuations. In extended trading, Oracle shares fell more than 10% after plans to raise an additional $20bn through a mix of equity and debt. Markets also digested a hot inflation report: US inflation accelerated in May to its fastest pace in over three years, driven primarily by war-induced energy price spikes, with attention turning to May PPI and weekly Initial Jobless Claims.
Geopolitical Events And Market Volatility
We see the current futures rally as a temporary reaction to geopolitical de-escalation. Given the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has been elevated, recently trading around 22, option premiums are expensive, reflecting significant underlying uncertainty. This suggests the market is pricing in more turbulence ahead despite the positive headline about US-Iran strikes concluding.
Inflation Pressures And Risks To Tech Stocks
The core issue remains the stubborn inflation data, with the May Consumer Price Index report showing a 4.5% year-over-year increase, its highest in three years. This hot reading cements our view that the Federal Reserve will hold its key interest rate steady at 5.50% through the summer. Consequently, we are positioning for a market environment where borrowing costs remain high, putting pressure on corporate earnings and equity valuations.
Technology and AI-related stocks appear particularly vulnerable after their massive run-up. The Nasdaq 100’s recent drop of nearly 2% in a single session signals that conviction is waning, and Oracle’s 10% after-hours plunge on news of share dilution reinforces this tech-bearish sentiment. We believe the sector is primed for a deeper correction as investors rotate out of high-valuation growth names.
In the coming weeks, we will be buying put options on the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) to hedge against and profit from this expected downturn. This strategy is reminiscent of early 2022, when high inflation and geopolitical shocks triggered a sharp sell-off in growth stocks. The current combination of geopolitical risk in the Middle East and persistent domestic inflation creates a similar, unfavorable backdrop for the market.
