U.S. stock index futures for the three major indexes fell on July 20: S&P 500 index futures and Nasdaq 100 index futures each dropped about 0.1%, while Dow Jones index futures fell nearly 0.2%. The trigger was the eighth consecutive day of U.S. airstrikes on Iran. The U.S. Central Command said the operation was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and to quickly punish Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces that attacked U.S. military personnel in Jordan.
Sunday After-Hours Trading for U.S. Stock Index Futures
A little past 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 20, all three U.S. stock index futures were lower: S&P 500 index futures fell 0.1%, Nasdaq 100 index futures fell 0.1%, and Dow Jones index futures fell nearly 0.2%. The after-hours decline came as the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran for the eighth consecutive day, with the ongoing geopolitical conflict continuing to weigh on market sentiment.
Oil Prices: WTI Breaks $84, Brent Surpasses $90
On Sunday, July 20, key price data for the crude oil and gasoline markets were as follows:
WTI crude oil futures: Up more than 3%, rising to about $84 per barrel
Brent crude oil futures: Up 3.2%, rising above $90 per barrel
GasBuddy national average gasoline: $3.96 per gallon; up 14 cents from last week, up 84 cents year over year
AAA national average gasoline: $3.99 per gallon
GasBuddy oil analyst Patrick De Haan said the U.S. gasoline average could reach $4 per gallon within the next 1 to 2 days. Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to its lowest level since 1983.
U.S. Military’s Statement on the Eighth Strike on Iran and Iran’s Response
In a statement on Sunday, the U.S. Central Command said the airstrike was aimed at further weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and “quickly punishing the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces that carried out the attack on U.S. service members in Jordan.”
Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency issued a statement from Tehran on Sunday, warning the U.S. that for any “greedy, bullying, expansionist, or brutal acts,” Iran will take a “decisive and destructive” response.
Recap of Last Week’s Performance for the Three Major Stock Indexes and the 6-Month CPI Release Schedule
Based on Dow Jones market data, all three major U.S. stock indexes finished lower last Wednesday: the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9% on the week, its biggest weekly point and percentage decline since the week of Mar. 20, 2026, with a gain of 8.5% year to date; the S&P 500 fell nearly 1.6% on the week, its biggest weekly decline since the week of June 26, 2026, with a gain of 8.9% year to date; and the Nasdaq index, led by tech stocks, fell 2.9% on the week, also its biggest weekly decline since the week of June 26, with a gain of 9.8% year to date.
In terms of key economic events this week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Tuesday (July 22).
FAQ
What targets did the U.S. military’s eighth airstrike on Iran go after?
According to the U.S. Central Command’s statement, the airstrike on July 20 (Sunday) was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while quickly punishing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that attacked U.S. military personnel in Jordan; the U.S. has carried out actions against targets in Iran for the eighth consecutive day.
How much did WTI and Brent crude oil futures rise on July 20?
According to reports, after 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 20, WTI crude oil futures contracts rose by more than 3%, reaching about $84 per barrel; Brent crude oil futures contracts rose 3.2%, rising above $90 per barrel.
When will the U.S. June CPI data be released?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release June Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on Tuesday, July 22, 2026.
