US Stocks Mixed as Retail Sales Dip and Iranian Blockade Looms

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Friday, as the Dow Jones index slipped and the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indices rose.

The U.S. retail sales dipped 0.6% in July to $763.6 billion following a revised 0.2% gain in June, signaling a modest pullback in consumer spending despite a solid 5.0% increase compared to a year ago.

According to Reuters, the U.S. stated it can maintain its naval blockade of Iran 'indefinitely,' and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of impending measures 'never been seen in the history of economic isolation.'

The economic pressure campaign follows fresh Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, where falling shipping traffic has led the International Energy Agency to forecast a 4% drop in global oil supply this year.