09:08 AM EDT, 03/31/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were up ahead of Tuesday's opening bell amid signs of President Donald Trump's willingness to end the Iran war without the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, S&P 500 futures, and Nasdaq futures were all up nearly 1.2%.

The Wall Street Journal reported late Monday that Trump has told administration officials that he is prepared to conclude the US military campaign against Iran even if the key waterway for crude shipments remains largely shut.

US markets will be closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.1% at $107.46 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.1% higher at $102.93 per barrel.

The Case-Shiller National Home Price index declined by 0.1% in January before seasonal adjustment following a 0.3% decrease in December. The FHFA's measure of home prices gained 0.1% in January after an upwardly revised 0.3% increase in the previous month, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET.

The March Chicago Purchasing Managers' Index, slated for 9:45 am ET, is seen coming in at 55.0 versus 57.7 previously.

The March consumer confidence index, due at 10 am ET, is projected to fall to 87.9 from 91.2, while February job openings from the Department of Labor's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey are expected to come in at 6.890 million compared with 6.946 million in the prior month.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.6% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.2% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.8% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 1%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.9% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Apellis Pharmaceuticals ( APLS ) shares were 137% higher after the company agreed to be acquired by Biogen (BIIB) for about $5.60 billion in cash plus contingency payments. Centessa Pharmaceuticals ( CNTA ) stock was up 46% after the company agreed to be bought by Eli Lilly ( LLY ) in a deal worth up to $7.80 billion.

On the losing side, Biogen shares were 3% lower. T1 Energy ( TE ) stock was down 14% after the company reported Q4 financial results that trailed analysts' estimates.