Stocks open mixed following Israel's airstrikes on Iran

Major stock market averages (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) are starting Friday's trading session initially mixed as stocks face pressure stemming from Israel's airstrike on Iran and markets await if further escalations in Middle East conflicts materialize. The Dow Jones Industrial Average moves above its flatline as it holds onto gains to start the day.

Morning Brief Hosts Seana Smith and Brad Smith monitor the morning market action and take a look at the gains seen across sectors.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief.

This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

Video transcript

SEANA SMITH: All right. Let's take a look at where we are opening the day. At least we can look at the big board here for the Dow, because this is really to know. We have been off, over 300 I think, in futures action here earlier this morning. Now we're actually opening to the positive side, to the upside here, up just about a tenth of a percent. Taking a look at the S&P 500, that's still under a bit of a pressure, just trading just below the flat line. The NASDAQ opening right now as well.

But taking a look, Brad, going back to your point here just a few minutes ago, on what a wild week it has been, or a tough week it has been here for the markets. You're looking at a five-day decline for the S&P, off nearly 2.5% when you flip it back over to the Dow, and some of that selling action that we have seen in the Dow as well, that's off just about a half of a percent over the last five trading days.

BRAD SMITH: Yeah. That's your classic shrugging technical chart pattern right there that you're seeing. So we'll see if we can find some direction here during today's trading session to wrap up this week. We were also taking a look at some of the sectors, there you go, also reading my mind here. Take a look at XLB, out of the gate this morning. That's leading the pack, that's up by about half a percent. So health care leading the pack. But technology, technology yesterday as well to begin the session, that was the biggest laggard that we had seen. Right now it's just jousting with communication services and consumer discretionary, it looks like, for that lagging position.