Middle East Tensions, Rising Oil Prices Drag US Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell

07:59 AM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were lower pre-bell Thursday as traders observed mounting Middle East tensions and rising oil prices. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.6% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 1%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.7% lower. Iran-backed Houthi forces have continued attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure, and the US has ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave the Middle Eastern country, according to multiple reports. The US and Israel have mapped out plans for fresh strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections next month, The New York Times reported, citing US officials. Traders also evaluated the latest round of earnings, with Procter & Gamble (PG) reporting higher fiscal Q1 core earnings and net sales. Western Digital (WDC) is expected to report its fiscal Q1 earnings after the market closes. Analysts polled by FactSet expect earnings of $4.11 per share on revenue of $4.14 billion. Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 2.9% at $111.92 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2.3% higher at $99.40 per barrel. The weekly jobless claims bulletin is expected to show 200,000 new unemployment claims for the week ended Oct. 17, up from 199,000 in the prior week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. September's leading indicators data is scheduled to be released 10 am ET. The Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index for October posts at 11 am.