US open: Stocks higher as Iran moves to halt strikes on Israel

(Sharecast News) - Major indices were in the green early on Monday as market participants kept a keen eye on developments in the Middle East following last week's selloff.

As of 1530 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.35% at 51,045.13, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.66% to 7,432.20 and the Nasdaq Composite came out of the gate 0.98% firmer at 25,962.46.

The Dow opened 178.35 points higher on Monday, taking a modest bite out of losses recorded in the previous session as investors digested May's jobs report.

Middle East tensions were in focus early on Monday after Israel responded to Tehran's actions, which were themselves a response to Jerusalem's attacks on Lebannon, with strikes on western and central Iran, fuelling fears that the conflict was worsening.

The reported Iranian attack also raised fresh doubts over the stability of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. According to the reports, the missile launch followed comments on X from Iranian parliament speaker MB Ghalibaf, who claimed the US naval blockade and alleged breaches of agreements relating to Lebanon amounted to violations of the truce.

Fears that hostilities were resuming sent global energy prices sharply higher. However, according to a statement carried by Iranian media, the country's joint military command has now confirmed that its military operation against Israel has come to an end, although it warned that "much more severe and crushing measures" would follow should there be any further "aggression and hostile acts", including in southern Lebanon.

The statement from Iran coincided with social media updates from Donald Trump calling on Israel and Iran to "immediately stop 'shooting'", and insisting that both sides were "looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!"

"Final negotiations on 'Peace' are proceeding, subject to ignore or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a 'Final Deal' is reached. Things should move quickly," he said.

Trump called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday urging him not to retaliate. He also told the Financial Times that Netanyahu had no choice but to accept any deal the US agreed with Iran, insisting: "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn't call the shots".

In the corporate space, Trip.com will report earnings after the close.

No major data points were scheduled for release on Monday.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Dow Jones - Risers

Chevron Corp. (CVX) $190.65 1.87%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $108.61 1.76%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $1,054.04 1.73%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $43.64 1.38%

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $122.23 1.10%

Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) $34.37 1.07%

Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $400.68 0.79%

American Express Co. (AXP) $313.12 0.79%

Boeing Co. (BA) $216.79 0.67%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $312.94 0.51%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $412.20 -3.25%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $123.76 -0.99%

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $348.67 -0.84%

Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $183.94 -0.83%

Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $301.09 -0.72%

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $99.29 -0.62%

Apple Inc. (AAPL) $311.50 -0.57%

Visa Inc. (V) $321.67 -0.52%

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $45.21 -0.37%

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $278.98 -0.27%

S&P 500 - Risers

Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) $11.81 8.08%

Kohls Corp. (KSS) $16.18 4.92%

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (JEF) $58.58 4.67%

Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP) $39.01 4.30%

Corning Inc. (GLW) $187.79 4.29%

Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) $1,176.45 4.10%

National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NOV) $20.95 3.52%

Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB) $56.78 3.41%

Amphenol Corp. (APH) $143.59 3.26%

Eog Resources Inc. (EOG) $142.09 3.19%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) $32.56 -8.62%

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $55.97 -6.24%

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $217.02 -5.63%

Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $589.56 -5.42%

Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) $146.11 -4.87%

Ipg Photonics Corp. (IPGP) $111.04 -4.52%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $248.25 -4.38%

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) $484.73 -3.64%

Hershey Foods Corp. (HSY) $178.10 -3.64%

Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $246.79 -3.38%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

American Airlines Group (AAL) $13.65 2.59%

Asml Holdings N.V. (ASML) $1,738.77 2.43%

Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) $23.01 2.16%

KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) $2,059.73 2.12%

Liberty Global plc Series A (LBTYA) $11.82 2.11%

CSX Corp. (CSX) $47.23 1.91%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $108.23 1.76%

Liberty Global plc Series C (LBTYK) $11.39 1.65%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $104.21 1.17%

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) $53.87 0.87%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $0.34 -13.49%

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $217.02 -5.63%

Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $589.56 -5.42%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $248.25 -4.38%

Baidu Inc. (BIDU) $120.04 -3.81%

Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $246.79 -3.38%

Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $1,594.85 -3.28%

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $411.80 -3.25%

Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) $129.01 -3.20%

Workday, Inc. (WDAY) $144.32 -3.13%