07:29 AM EDT, 07/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The benchmark US stock measures were pointing higher before the opening bell Monday as investors await earnings from several major companies this week and monitor developments in the Middle East.

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% each in premarket activity, while the Nasdaq added 0.6%. The indexes finished Friday's trading session lower.

Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla (TSLA) are scheduled to release their quarterly earnings after the markets close Wednesday. Intel ( INTC ) , Philip Morris International ( PM ) , American Express ( AXP ) , T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) , International Business Machines ( IBM ) , AT&T ( T ) and Verizon Communications ( VZ ) are also expected to post their results this week.

Shares of Domino's Pizza (DPZ) spiked 7.1% pre-bell as the pizza restaurant chain reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter revenue. Alibaba's ( BABA ) US-listed stock rebounded 3.4% after closing Friday down 2.1%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil edged down 0.8% to $81.87 a barrel before the open, while Brent slipped 0.1% to $88.05.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran could resume negotiations with the US based on national interests, CNBC reported. Baghaei told reporters that US intermediaries had continued to exchange messages with Iran.

The US Central Command said Sunday its forces completed their ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran. In a separate statement, CENTCOM confirmed the passing of three US service members, while a missing fourth member's remains were found in Jordan.

"Energy and refined fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz continues to slow amid the escalating conflict between the US and Iran," Saxo Bank said in a Friday report. "The renewed disruption has interrupted the recent recovery in regional supply, reviving concerns about tighter global markets."

Treasury yields were trending upwards in premarket action, with the two-year rate increasing 1.5 basis points to 4.19% and the 10-year rate gaining 2.1 basis points to 4.56%.

Consumer sentiment this month hit its highest level since February amid easing price pressures at the pump, though renewed tensions in the Middle East could weigh on confidence going forward, according to a survey released Friday by the University of Michigan.

Gold nudged up 0.2% to $4,026 per troy ounce, while bitcoin decreased 0.3% to $64,234.