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Futures: Dow flat, S&P 500 up 0.06%, Nasdaq up 0.11%

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Tesla up on robotaxi launch in Texas

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Energy stocks rise on fears of Iran shutting Strait of

Hormuz

(Updates before markets open)

By Kanchana Chakravarty and Nikhil Sharma

June 23 (Reuters) -

Wall Street's main indexes were on track for a subdued open

on Monday as investors awaited Iran's response to U.S.

airstrikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend, sparking

fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate since the U.S.

strikes, but is yet to do so in a meaningful way.

Oil prices jumped earlier in the day amid rising concerns

around Iran shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil supply

route. Brent futures were trading nearly flat at $76.96

a barrel, as of 08:39 a.m. ET.

Energy stocks rose in premarket trading, tracking a surge in

crude prices. Shares of energy majors Chevron ( CVX ) and Exxon

gained more than 1% each.

Defense stocks also rose, with Lockheed Martin ( LMT ) up

0.6% and RTX Corporation ( RTX ) gaining 1.2%.

"Markets are cautiously approaching the new week with an

eye on further escalation, or if this may well be the end of

this story," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley

Wealth.

As markets grapple with existing price pressures from

President Donald Trump's tariffs, the oil price volatility added

a new layer of inflation concerns as the 90-day suspension for

U.S. tariffs approaches.

At 08:41 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 9 points, or

0.02%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 3.75 points, or 0.06%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 23.25 points, or 0.11%.

Among other movers, Tesla rose 1.6% after the

EV-maker deployed 10 self-driving taxis in Texas, marking the

first time Tesla cars without human drivers carried paying

riders.

Shares of U.S. carriers were mostly down, with Delta Air

Lines ( DAL ) falling 1.1%, and American Airlines ( AAL ) losing

0.6%.

Fiserv's ( FI ) shares rose 5.8% after the fintech firm

announced plans to launch a new digital asset platform.

Following a strong rally in equities last month that pushed

indexes close to their record levels, investor momentum was

bruised by rising geopolitical tensions.

The benchmark S&P 500 index remains about 3% below

its record level.

Among major economic indicators, focus will be on U.S. core

PCE data and final GDP reading, set to be released later in the

week.

Investors will also closely watch U.S. Federal Reserve Chair

Jerome Powell's two-day semiannual testimony before Congress, as

lawmakers are expected to question the top policymaker on a

range of topics including interest rates and tariffs.

The central bank kept interest rates unchanged in its June

monetary policy meeting but flagged inflationary risks due to

higher trade duties.

In earnings, investors were awaiting fourth-quarter results

from sportswear giant Nike ( NKE ) and parcel delivery giant

FedEx ( FDX ), both expected later in the week.

Preliminary June PMI data is due at 09:45 a.m. ET and

existing home sales data for May is scheduled for release at

10:00 a.m. ET.

Fed Board Governor Christopher Waller, Fed Chicago President

Austan Goolsbee and Fed San Francisco President Mary Daly are

slated to speak later in the day.