US stock futures opened lower Tuesday as investors returned from the Labor Day holiday facing a wave of fresh concerns. Oil prices surged, Middle East tensions escalated, and inflation fears came back to the forefront.
Dow Jones futures fell 0.8% to 53,013 points. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.3% to 7,691. Nasdaq 100 futures were roughly flat at 29,593 points.
Brent crude rose 1.4% to a six-week high, nearing $99 per barrel. US benchmark WTI crude approached $93. It was the third straight session of gains for oil.
The move higher came as Iran threatened to impose a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf. Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei said the warning came in response to what he called US “economic warfare.”
🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran is declaring an exclusion zone across the Gulf
Mohsen Rezaei posted that Washington received a clear warning from Iran's new missiles, that economic warfare will be met with a maritime exclusion zone stretching to the blockade perimeter, and that the posture toward… pic.twitter.com/9ycpYFXNRH
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 8, 2026
Houthi forces backed by Iran also carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about energy infrastructure in the region.
The Persian Gulf handles a large share of global oil supply. Any disruption to shipping there could push energy prices even higher, adding fuel to inflation worries.
A strong August jobs report released Friday caught markets off guard. The data showed stronger-than-expected job gains, suggesting the economy is still running hot enough for the Federal Reserve to keep rates elevated.
Investors are now watching Friday’s Consumer Price Index report closely. If inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, another rate hike could come as soon as this month.
Rising oil prices make that scenario more likely. Higher energy costs push up transportation and production prices, which filter through to broader inflation.
Treasury yields were also climbing Tuesday. Higher yields raise borrowing costs for businesses and consumers. They also make stocks less attractive compared to bonds, particularly for growth and technology companies.
The US national debt has now passed $40 trillion. The Treasury was set to auction three-year notes Tuesday, with demand from investors being watched as a signal of confidence in US government debt.
President Trump called Monday for an immediate halt to Bombardier’s sales in the United States. The Canadian aircraft maker generates more than half its revenue from the US market, roughly $5 billion annually. Investors could be forced to reassess the company’s outlook if the restriction takes effect.
On the earnings front, GameStop was set to report results Tuesday. Oracle reports later in the week and is seen as the bigger market mover.
The ADP Employment Change report was also due Tuesday, giving investors another read on labor market conditions heading into the Fed’s next meeting.
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