Dow Jones futures rise on US-Iran peace deal
- Dow Jones futures surge as the US and Iran agreed to resolve their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- US-Iran deal in Switzerland on June 19 will lift blockades and sanctions in exchange for dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program.
- The US-Iran peace agreement lowered oil prices, easing concerns over global inflation and higher interest rates.
Dow Jones futures gain over 1%, trading near 51,750 during the European hours on Monday, ahead of the US regular opening. However, S&P 500 futures rise 1.24% to near 7,530, and Nasdaq 100 futures advance 1.97%, trading near 30,250 at the time of writing.
US stock futures rally as market sentiment improves following a breakthrough agreement between the United States (US) and Iran to end their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deal, set to be signed in Switzerland on June 19, reportedly includes the lifting of blockades, sanctions relief for Iran, and the dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear program. In a coordinated response, the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, and Italy announced they are prepared to lift sanctions on Iran following steps taken regarding its nuclear program.
The US-Iran peace agreement eases oil prices and concerns about inflation and higher interest rates. Market expectations for monetary policy have shifted dramatically. The CME FedWatch tool now indicates a nearly 47% probability that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will hold interest rates unchanged in December, a sharp increase from the 28% priced in just last week.
Major US indexes are coming off a strong week, with market sentiment fueled by SpaceX’s historic IPO on Friday. The company finished its debut session with a market capitalization above $2 trillion after soaring more than 19% from its initial offering price, highlighting robust investor appetite for high-profile growth stocks.
Dow Jones FAQs
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of the oldest stock market indices in the world, is compiled of the 30 most traded stocks in the US. The index is price-weighted rather than weighted by capitalization. It is calculated by summing the prices of the constituent stocks and dividing them by a factor, currently 0.152. The index was founded by Charles Dow, who also founded the Wall Street Journal. In later years it has been criticized for not being broadly representative enough because it only tracks 30 conglomerates, unlike broader indices such as the S&P 500.
Many different factors drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The aggregate performance of the component companies revealed in quarterly company earnings reports is the main one. US and global macroeconomic data also contributes as it impacts on investor sentiment. The level of interest rates, set by the Federal Reserve (Fed), also influences the DJIA as it affects the cost of credit, on which many corporations are heavily reliant. Therefore, inflation can be a major driver as well as other metrics which impact the Fed decisions.
Dow Theory is a method for identifying the primary trend of the stock market developed by Charles Dow. A key step is to compare the direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA) and only follow trends where both are moving in the same direction. Volume is a confirmatory criteria. The theory uses elements of peak and trough analysis. Dow’s theory posits three trend phases: accumulation, when smart money starts buying or selling; public participation, when the wider public joins in; and distribution, when the smart money exits.
There are a number of ways to trade the DJIA. One is to use ETFs which allow investors to trade the DJIA as a single security, rather than having to buy shares in all 30 constituent companies. A leading example is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). DJIA futures contracts enable traders to speculate on the future value of the index and Options provide the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the index at a predetermined price in the future. Mutual funds enable investors to buy a share of a diversified portfolio of DJIA stocks thus providing exposure to the overall index.
Author
Akhtar Faruqui
FXStreet
Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.
