European stock futures slipped as Middle East tensions resurfaced, though strong AI-related earnings from Meta eased some worries about the AI investment boom. The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. is preparing strike options against Iran, though Trump said no attack would come before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone targeting Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field. Oil rose on re-escalation fears, though flows out of the Persian Gulf in October nearly returned to pre-war levels, and gold fell on inflation and rate concerns. Copper and iron ore also declined, with iron ore weighed by weak demand and ample supply. Iran's floating oil storage was depleted by mid-October under a U.S. naval blockade, and mediators are racing to revive talks.
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Related tickers and likely impact
QQQ
▼ Likely negativeInvesco QQQ Trust
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/21/2026 | 725.20 |
| Change that session | +1.05% |
SPY
▼ Likely negativeSPDR S&P 500 ETF
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/21/2026 | 773.09 |
| Change that session | +0.53% |
XAU/USD
▲ Likely positiveRelevance: low
| Market | Gold |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/21/2026 | 4,141.17 |
| Change that session | +0.39% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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