Dow, S&P 500, NASDAQ Futures Extend Losses Amid Us-Iran Tensions

August 18, 2026

Stock Market Today

US stock futures fell on Tuesday as rising tensions between the US and Iran revived inflation concerns, with elevated oil prices adding pressure.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were flat, while those on the S&P 500 declined 0.5%. Contracts for the Nasdaq-100 retreated 1%, leading the major indexes lower after a downbeat start to the trading week.

Oil prices climbed to their highest level in over two weeks after President Trump said he intends to inflict more economic pain on Iran and threatened to "bomb" Oman if it interferes with the US's plans for the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, hit $91 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose to $84 per barrel as the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve plunged to its lowest level since 1982.

Rising oil prices, an AI borrowing spree, and concerns over government borrowing have also lifted bond yields globally. In the US, the 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.72%, while the 30-year yield advanced to 5.31%, a 19-year high.

Earnings, meanwhile, have supported equities so far this reporting season. While the second-quarter reporting period has slowed, a handful of reports from Home Depot, Toll Brothers, and Klarna, among others, are on deck. Yahoo Finance reports.

EdgeUp

🔋 Xos Secures U.S. Air Force Contract, Stock Soars in Pre-market

Xos, Inc. (NASDAQ: XOS) ("Xos" or the "Company"), a leader in electric commercial vehicles and mobile charging solutions, today announced that it has been awarded a prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) by the United States Air Force to develop and deliver a deployable mobile charging solution for electrified support equipment and vehicles.

The award, made through the Air Force Global Strike Command Rapid Capabilities Division 2026 Showcase, marks Xos's entry into the defense market and reflects the growing cross-sector demand for the Company's mobile energy storage platform across commercial fleets, ports, municipalities, and now national defense.

The award lands in a fast-growing market: the global military power solutions sector is projected to reach $19.87 billion by 2033, growing at 7.7% annually as armed forces prioritize portable, high-efficiency energy across their operations.

Xos meets that demand head-on with a commercially proven mobile energy platform, purpose-built to deliver high-capacity, grid-independent power wherever it is needed, without waiting on permanent infrastructure. GlobeNewswire reports.

🧬 Amylyx Pharmaceuticals to Announce Topline Results from Its Phase 3 LUCIDITY Clinical Trial, Stock Up in Pre-market

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLX) (“Amylyx” or the “Company”) will announce topline results from its Phase 3 LUCIDITY Clinical Trial of Avexitide in Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia on August 18, 2026. Amylyx’s senior management team will host a conference call and audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Amylyx is focused on developing therapies for endocrine conditions and neurodegenerative diseases with high unmet needs. The company currently has four investigational therapies in development across these areas. BusinessWire reports.

🪑 Why Flexsteel Industries Shares Are Trading 9% Higher

Shares of Flexsteel Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: FLXS) rose sharply in pre-market trading after the company posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.

The company reported quarterly earnings of $1.33 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $1.09 per share. Quarterly sales came in at $115.365 million, above the analyst consensus estimate of $109.663 million.

Flexsteel Industries shares jumped 9% to $77.25 in pre-market trading. Benzinga reports.

🔬 Fabrinet (FN) Stock Falls Over 7% After Hours: Why Is It Trending?

Fabrinet (NYSE: FN) shares tumbled 7.05% in Monday’s after-hours trading and were seen trending overnight.

The stock closed Monday’s regular session up 4.97% at $598.58 before falling 7.05% to $556.40 in after-hours trading.

Fabrinet provides advanced optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers of complex products. Benzinga reports.

🕒 Nasdaq Confirms 23-Hour Trading From December With New Overnight Session

Nasdaq announced it will begin trading U.S. stocks for nearly 23 hours a day starting Sunday, December 6.

The move, still subject to SEC approval, means Nasdaq's trading day will stretch from Sunday evening to Friday evening with barely a pause.

For European investors, the new window of 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. ET will be 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. CET, meaning Europeans could be trading Nasdaq-listed stocks for almost an entire session before London opens.

Nasdaq already runs extended sessions from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., called the pre-market session, and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, called the after-hours session, around its core trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, access to that early and late trading has largely been exclusive to institutional investors with direct market connections.

Nasdaq President Tal Cohen has framed the expansion as a way to "broaden investor access and expand wealth-building opportunities" for everyone else.

The move is also backed by numbers, as foreign holdings of U.S. equities reached $17 trillion (€14.6 trillion) by mid-2024, up 97% since 2019, a surge Nasdaq wants to capture directly rather than cede to platforms already open around the clock. Yahoo Finance reports.

Top 5 Movers in Early Pre-Market

(All pricing and percent gains are based on Early Pre-Market from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM ET). Stock Analysis reports.

1) PFSA: Profusa, Inc.

Total gain: +6.41 (141.50%)

2) XOS: Xos, Inc.

Total gain: +2.580 (123.44%)

3) WETO: Wetour Robotics Limited

Total gain: +11.11 (45.18%)

4) SGLY: Singularity Future Technology Ltd.

Total gain: +1.94 (43.21%)

5) ENRD: Einride AB

Total gain: +1.99 (32.31%)

Yesteday's Biggest Movers

The closing price of the top three market percent gainers trading near or above $3 on Aug 17.

(All pricing and percent gains are based on regular market trading hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET) Stock Analysis reports.

1) WETO: Wetour Robotics Limited

Total gain: +16.37 (199.15%)

The stock appeared to be moving on no notable news.

2) OSRH: OSR Health, Inc.

Total gain: +0.2740 (86.71%)

The stock appeared to be moving on no notable news.

3) TRUG: TruGolf Holdings, Inc.

Total gain: +0.571 (58.84%)

The stock appeared to be moving on no notable news.

Today’s Notable Earnings

(Estimate and Actual numbers represent Earnings Per Share in US Dollars)

JKHY
Jack Henry & Associates

Q4 2026

After Market Close
Estimate: 1.440
Actual: N/A

MRCY
Mercury Sys

Q4 2026

After Market Close
Estimate: 0.350
Actual: N/A

HD
Home Depot

Q2 2026

Before Market Open
Estimate: 4.730
Actual: N/A

Today’s Economic Dates

Time (ET) / Report / Period

8:30 AM / Housing Starts / July
8:30 AM / Import Prices / July
9:15 AM / Industrial Production, M/M% / July

Parting Thoughts

“Good investing doesn’t come from buying good things, but from buying things well.”

– Howard Marks

Sourced in: Oaktree Capital, “On Bubble Watch."

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