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Wall Street futures drop after US-Iran peace talks fail

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 13, 2026

4 min read

· Last updated: April 14, 2026

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Wall Street futures drop after US-Iran peace talks fail
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April 13 (Reuters) - Wall Street futures slipped on Monday, starting the week on a subdued note, after talks between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend failed to deliver a deal nL6N40V09S to end the

Wall St indexes fall after failed US-Iran peace talks unsettle investors

Market Reaction to US-Iran Peace Talks Breakdown

By Niket Nishant and Avinash P

April 13 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes slipped on Monday after weekend talks between the U.S. and Iran failed to deliver a deal nL6N40V09S to end the war, threatening a nascent recovery in equities and risking a renewed bout of volatility.

Geopolitical Tensions and Market Volatility

The declines indicate that any relief nL6N40T16E from the ceasefire reached last week could be fleeting, underscoring the risks of leaning too heavily into bullish bets when the geopolitical environment remains uncertain.

Adding to the uncertainty was the U.S. military blockade of all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, a move aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran.

The CBOE Market Volatility Index, the market's fear gauge, climbed to 20.61 points.

Expert Commentary on Market Sentiment

"We expect renewed pressure on risk assets and upward moves in oil early this week," said Benjamin Jones, global head of research at Invesco.

"There has been a de-escalation in the armed conflict but the scale of the de-escalation and lack of clarity on when trade flows will resume leaves us broadly still in the same place -- status quo -- from an economic perspective."

Corporate Earnings and Sector Performance

Goldman Sachs Earnings Impact

GOLDMAN DROPS AFTER EARNINGS

Hopes of relief on the earnings front were dashed after Goldman Sachs shares fell 4.1% due to weakness nL4N40W0SE in its fixed income, currencies and commodities division.

Analyst Insights on Earnings and Economic Outlook

"We don't see the market really paying too much attention to the earnings beat. And it's all because of prospects of higher inflation, weaker economic activity and a Fed that may be forced to stay on hold for a long, long time," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities.

Attention now turns to commentary from Goldman executives, for clues on how the Middle East conflict, now in its seventh week, is impacting the economy and capital markets.

Financial stocks declined 0.6%.

Major Index Movements

As of 09:40 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 356.14 points, or 0.72%, to 47,572.11, the S&P 500 dropped 22.25 points, or 0.33%, to 6,794.64 and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 81.74 points, or 0.36%, to 22,821.15.

Asset Class Shifts and Sector Highlights

Safe-Haven Assets and Currency Flows

The shift in sentiment was also visible across other asset classes, with investors gravitating toward nL6N40W0BU the safe-haven U.S. dollar while trimming exposure to equities across geographies nL4N40W0EA.

Oil Prices and Inflation Concerns

Oil prices jumped back above nL1N40V07F $100 a barrel, aggravating inflation worries after data last week showed that a record surge in the cost of gasoline and diesel prompted the biggest increase in U.S. consumer prices in nearly four years in March.

Sector Winners and Losers

Chevron, Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips climbed 1.8%, 1.2% and 2%, respectively, pushing energy stocks 1.2% higher and making it the only major sector in positive territory.

Travel-related stocks dropped, with carriers such as Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways down 2.9% and 2.4%, respectively, on concerns that higher oil prices might push up fuel costs.

Industrial supplies distributor Fastenal's shares fell 2.6% after earnings. Sandisk added 4% as the memory chipmaker was on track to join the Nasdaq-100 index on April 20.

Upcoming Economic Events and Market Breadth

Key Data Releases and Fed Commentary

Later in the day, data is due on existing home sales in the U.S., and Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran is scheduled to speak.

Market Breadth Statistics

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 2.43-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.7-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P 500 posted 6 new 52-week highs and 11 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 30 new highs and 51 new lows.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant and Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Devika Syamnath)

Key Takeaways

  • Futures tumbled amid geopolitical uncertainty: Dow E‑minis down ~0.4%, Nasdaq‑100 ~0.6%, S&P 500 ~0.5%.
  • U.S. military will begin blockading all maritime traffic to/from Iranian ports at 10 a.m. ET on April 13—a move that sent oil prices above $100 and pushed investors into the dollar.
  • The collapse of Islamabad peace talks endangers the fragile ceasefire, heightens inflation risks amid already high fuel costs, and shifts investor focus to probing Goldman Sachs earnings commentary for Middle East war impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Wall Street futures decline?
Futures dropped after US-Iran peace talks over the weekend failed and geopolitical tensions rose, prompting risk-off sentiment.
How did oil prices react to the failed US-Iran talks?
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, increasing inflation concerns due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
What sectors gained or lost following the news?
Energy stocks like Chevron and Exxon Mobil gained, while travel-related stocks such as Delta and JetBlue declined.
What is the US military planning after the failed talks?
The US military is preparing to block maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports to increase pressure on Tehran.

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