Dow Futures show a slight decline as investors express concerns regarding the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Oil prices have surged once more, surpassing the $100 per barrel mark, as assaults on shipping vessels in proximity to a vital waterway south of Iran heighten apprehensions regarding ongoing supply disruptions. stabilizes, yet continues to face challenges stemming from inflation concerns triggered by the oil shock. is set to disclose its most recent earnings, while the oil major will also release its annual report.

Dow Futures indicated a downward trend on Thursday, following a resurgence in oil prices above $100 per barrel, notwithstanding attempts to release substantial crude reserves aimed at mitigating the disruptions caused by the conflict in Iran. By 04:10, the Dow futures contract had declined by 218 points, representing a decrease of 0.5%, while another index had decreased by 25 points, or 0.4%, and a third futures contract had slipped by 93 points, also reflecting a 0.4% drop. On Wednesday, the blue-chip index declined to its lowest closing level of the year, indicative of concerns that the oil shock may adversely affect various U.S. businesses and consumers. Nonetheless, the benchmark S&P 500 concluded the day slightly lower, whereas the tech-centric Nasdaq Composite managed to secure a modest increase. Sentiment was strengthened by results from cloud-computing leader Oracle, which presented an optimistic outlook for demand in artificial intelligence data centers. U.S. consumer price data for February aligned with expectations; however, the inflation outlook has deteriorated as analysts prepare for the repercussions of the surge in oil prices. While the implications of the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran have dominated market attention, other underlying themes persist, such as concerns within the private-credit sector, ongoing ambiguity regarding the future of U.S. tariffs, and apprehensions about the returns on substantial investments in AI.

Oil prices temporarily climbed above the significant $100 per barrel threshold, as concerns regarding interrupted oil supplies persist, fueled by the intensifying conflict in Iran that is affecting a substantial portion of the Middle East. At 04:05, the Brent futures contract, the global benchmark, had increased by 4.3% to $95.92 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate had risen 3.8% to $90.54 per barrel. Crude prices have exhibited significant volatility in recent days, highlighting the heightened sensitivity of investors to the ongoing developments in the Iran conflict. Earlier this week, Brent reached nearly $120 a barrel, marking its highest level since 2022. The primary issue facing oil markets has been the potential disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the constricted passageway located south of Iran, which is responsible for a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies, with a substantial amount intended for Asia and Europe. Tanker traffic has effectively halted as concerns regarding the safety of crews are heightened by the potential for Iranian attacks. Shipping companies have encountered difficulties in securing insurance for the hazardous voyages, thereby exacerbating the challenges faced in crossings. Iran has intensified its offensive actions, whereas the U.S. Navy has opted not to provide escort services for vessels transiting the strait. In the past 24 hours, a minimum of six vessels have sustained damage, with Bahrain reporting that its oil infrastructure has come under attack. This development occurs in the context of the International Energy Agency announcing its most significant release of emergency oil reserves, a strategic move intended to stabilize volatile oil markets. The U.S. Energy Department announced its intention to release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves.

Gold prices have found stability following a decline during Asian trading hours, as the lack of de-escalation in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has driven investments into rising energy prices, thereby intensifying inflation concerns. Spot gold increased by 0.1% to $5,178.65 per ounce by 04:54, while gold futures rose by 0.1% to $5,184.75 per ounce. As bullion oscillates within the $5,000-$5,200 per ounce range, it faces pressure from the oil shock, raising concerns among analysts about a potential resurgence in price growth. Central banks, including the Federal Reserve, might need to reassess their stance on imminent interest rate reductions, consequently resulting in a stronger dollar. A robust dollar can negatively impact gold, rendering the yellow metal pricier for international purchasers and diminishing its conventional allure as a safe haven. The dollar index experienced an increase of approximately 0.2%, approaching a two-month peak.

Adobe is poised to announce its most recent financial results following the market’s close on Thursday, as investors remain eager to assess how the company is navigating the growing apprehensions regarding artificial intelligence’s influence on the software industry. Initially regarded as a favorable development for the industry, the rise of new AI tools has sparked concerns in recent months regarding potential disruptions that could destabilize numerous software-as-a-service companies. Investors have been expressing concerns that emerging iterations of technology, such as plug-ins to Anthropic’s Claude agent capable of analyzing legal documents, could significantly increase demand across various sectors, including data analytics and marketing. The sector-specific S&P 500 Information Technology, of which Adobe is a constituent, has experienced a decline exceeding 3% year-to-date. The situation marks a significant turnaround from 2025, a year in which the index achieved a total return of 24%. Shares of Adobe, whose suite of offerings include InDesign and Acrobat, have been indicative of this trend, declining by over 17% year-to-date. Prior to this year’s existential crisis in the software sector, Adobe was already proactive in addressing potential disruptions by advancing its own AI strategy, striving to integrate the emerging technology into its offerings via tools such as Firefly and Adobe Express. The enhancements are designed to attract users by facilitating the rapid creation of images and videos within Adobe’s Creative Cloud. The initiative to capitalize on AI advancements seems to have positioned the company favorably, as executives project full-year fiscal 2026 revenue and profit that exceed market anticipations. The firm stated that it anticipates annual revenue to fall between $25.90 billion and $26.10 billion, with earnings per share projected to be within the range of $23.30 to $23.50.

According to an annual report released on Thursday, oil major Shell’s compensation package for CEO Wael Sawan reached 13.8 million pounds in 2025, an increase from 8.6 million pounds in the previous year. The group previously reported adjusted earnings of $18.5 billion in 2025, a decline from $23.7 billion in 2024, attributed to softer oil prices and challenges within its chemicals unit. Shell, nonetheless, upheld considerable distributions to shareholders throughout the year. Total distributions amounted to approximately $22.4 billion, comprising $8.5 billion in dividends and $13.9 billion in share buybacks. This represents around 52% of cash flow from operations, positioning payouts at the upper end of the company’s target range of 40%–50%. The annual report follows a report from Reuters indicating that Shell, the leading trader of liquefied natural gas worldwide, has declared force majeure on LNG cargoes acquired from QatarEnergy for global distribution. This development comes in the wake of Qatar’s suspension of production at its 77 million-tonne-per-year LNG facility and its own declaration of force majeure on shipments. According to estimates, Shell is projected to acquire approximately 6.8 million tons per annum of Qatari LNG through supply agreements, whereas TotalEnergies is anticipated to take about 5.2 mtpa, as indicated in the report.