On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 184.93 points, or 0.44%, to 42,011.6, as the S&P 500 fell 9.6 points, or 0.17%, to 5,699.9, and the Nasdaq 100 fell 9.24 points, or 0.05%, to 19,793.

U.S. stock futures trended lower on early Wednesday due to the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Futures on the S&P 500 (SPX)

U.S. stock index futures dipped on Thursday as markets awaited labor data for clues on the economic outlook and the likelihood of further interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, while watching for a potential escalation in Middle East hostilities.

S&P 500 futures are down 0.4%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are falling 0.4%. Nasdaq 100 futures are slipping 0.6%.

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are also weighing on investor optimism. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran after the latter's missile attack. Oil prices are now up roughly 4.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Thursday as markets awaited data for insights on the economic outlook and the likelihood of further interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, while watching for a potential escalation in Middle East hostilities.