February Jobs Report in Focus as US Equity Futures Decline Pre-Bell

09:00 AM EST, 03/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were down ahead of Friday's opening bell as traders digested the key February jobs report.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.8%, S&P 500 futures were 0.8% lower, and Nasdaq futures were down 1%.

The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, with Tehran effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping chokepoint.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 5.1% at $89.74 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 7.3% higher at $86.98 per barrel.

The February jobs report showed a surprise 92,000 decline in nonfarm payrolls after a 126,000 rise in the prior month. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a 55,000 gain. The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in February from 4.3% in January, compared with expectations for no change.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.6% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.7% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.4% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 1%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.8% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Marvell Technology (MRVL) shares were 10% higher pre-bell after the company reported late Thursday higher fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue.

On the losing side, Nutex Health (NUTX) shares were 24% lower, a day after the company reported lower Q4 revenue.

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