09:01 AM EDT, 03/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were down ahead of Tuesday's opening bell as traders stayed on the sidelines amid the latest developments in the US-Iran conflict.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures and S&P 500 futures were both down 0.4%, while Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.

President Donald Trump said Monday in a Truth Social post that the US and Iran have held "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution" of the Middle East conflict. Tehran, however, denied that any talks had taken place, according to media reports.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 3.2% at $99.02 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 4.2% higher at $91.77 per barrel.

The Q4 nonfarm productivity report, released at 8:30 am ET, showed an annual gain of 1.8%, in line with estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Unit labor costs rose 4.4%, compared with estimates for a 3.6% increase.

The March S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, due at 9:45 am ET, is seen coming in at 51.9.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.4% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2.8% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.8% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.06%, and Germany's DAX index was down 0.4% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Netgear ( NTGR ) shares were 12% higher after the Federal Communications Commission banned the import of all new foreign-made consumer routers. Jefferies Financial ( JEF ) stock was up 8% following a Financial Times report that Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) is considering acquiring the US-based investment bank.

On the losing side, Hesai Group ( HSAI ) shares were 5% lower after the company reported lower Q4 adjusted earnings.