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European Stocks Close Mixed; Trump to Make Final Determination on US, Iran Peace Deal

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The European stock markets closed mixed in Friday trading as President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he will make a final determination on the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

The Stoxx Europe rose 0.2%, Germany's DAX gained 0.1%, the FTSE 100 slid 0.1%, France's CAC retreated 0.1%, and the Swiss Market Index closed 0.3% higher.

In corporate news, former BP chair Albert Manifold met with activist investor Elliott Management without directly notifying other board members, Reuters reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

BP removed Manifold less than eight months into the role over governance and conduct concerns, with some board members viewing his meetings with Elliott as unilateral actions, according to the report. Manifold had notified BP's investor relations team about the meetings, which were expected to be included in regular board updates, Reuters added.

BP did not immediately reply to' request for comment.

Shares of BP were little changed in London.

UBS cut several hundred jobs across its Europe, Middle East and Africa operations in its latest round of reductions linked to the 2023 Credit Suisse takeover, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

UBS toldthat it aims to keep job cuts from the Credit Suisse integration as low as possible, with reductions phased over several years and largely achieved through natural attrition, early retirement, internal mobility, and bringing outsourced roles in-house. It is also focusing on internalizing third-party roles to reduce the overall impact.

Shares of the Swiss bank advanced 1% in Zurich.

Stellantis' Chrysler is recalling 419,035 vehicles in the US because a software error could delay side air bag deployment during a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.

The regulator said the recall covers certain 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2023-2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L models.

Shares of the automaker dropped 1.5% in Paris.

BHP could face a possible labor action by 200 workers at Port Hedland in Western Australia, potentially disrupting iron ore exports worldwide, the Electrical Trades Union said.

In a statement to, the union said it "will vote on work stoppages following six months of failed talks" with BHP. BHP said in a statement tothat it continues "constructive engagement to reach an outcome that maintains industry-leading pay and conditions while supporting safe, productive and sustainable operations."

Shares of the mining company rose 1% in London.

AstraZeneca said late Thursday its Imfinzi, in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The approval was based on a phase 3 study that showed a 32% reduction in the risk of high-risk disease recurrence, progression or death after one year of treatment.

Additionally, AstraZeneca's Alexion Rare Disease unit said Friday that a phase 3 clinical program evaluating anselamimab in light chain amyloidosis did not meet its primary endpoint in the overall patient population.

Shares of the British pharmaceutical company were slightly up in London.

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US Equity Indexes Rise as Iran Peace Deal Reportedly Awaits Trump's Signature, Core Inflation Eases Unexpectedly

US equity indexes rose as a deal to end the war against Iran was said to be awaiting President Donald Trump's signature and as the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge unexpectedly eased in April.The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.9% to 26,917.47, the S&P 500 advanced 0.6% to 7,563.63, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by less than 0.1% to 50,668.97 at the close on Thursday.A tentative agreement has been reached between the US and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and start nuclear talks, according to US officials, CNN reported, adding that Trump has not signed off on it yet. Negotiators for the US and Iran agreed on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire, Axios reported, citing two US officials.Meanwhile, US Central Command confirmed that Iran fired a ballistic missile toward Kuwait overnight, which was intercepted, CNN reported. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier said it launched an attack targeting an American air base, claiming it was the source of US strikes, according to the news report.Brent crude futures slipped 0.4% to $93.94. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 0.5% to $89.15.In precious metals, gold futures jumped 1% to $4,528.2, and silver futures climbed 1.3% to $75.90.The personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, price index slowed to 0.4% month-over-month from 0.7% in March, Bureau of Economic Analysis data showed. The Street expected 0.5% in a Bloomberg-compiled poll. The core PCE price index, which excludes the more volatile food and energy and is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, grew by 0.2% versus March's 0.3%, also the consensus for April.Annually, the PCE index jumped 3.8% in April, the largest increase since May 2023, up from 3.5% in March but in line with market expectations. Core PCE climbed to 3.3%, as expected, from 3.2% in March.Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 2.8 basis points to 4.45%. The two-year declined one basis point to 4.02%.US economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, rose by 1.6% in Q1, revised lower from a 2.0% increase in the advance estimate. No revision was expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. GDP rose by 0.5% in Q4.New orders for US durable goods rose by 7.9% in April following a 1.3% increase in March, beating the 4.0% gain forecast in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Excluding a 21.5% surge in transportation orders, new orders would have been up 1.1% in April after a 1.1% increase in March. Expectations were for a 0.5% gain.In company news, Dollar Tree (DLTR) shares soared 18%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500, after the company posted higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance.The worst performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq was Synopsys (SNPS), down 8.6%, after the company reported a decline in fiscal Q2 non-GAAP earnings.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DLTR$SNPS
Asia Markets

Exchange-Traded Funds Rise as US Equities Advance After Midday

Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV edged higher. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) rose 0.9%.US equity indexes rose after midday Thursday amid media speculation of a peace deal with Iran to end the war and as the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation rate eased sequentially.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) rose 0.3%, and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) added 0.1%.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was 1.7% higher; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) rose 1.5%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.6%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) advanced 2.1%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) gained 2%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) fell 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) declined 1.4%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), climbed 1.3%.CommoditiesCrude oil fell 0.5%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) slipped 0.7%. Natural gas climbed 5.5%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 5.9%.Gold on Comex added 2%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 1.3%. Silver added 1.3%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was up 1.4%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) lost 0.1%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) fell 0.2%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was down 0.5%.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) rose fractionally. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) slipped 0.1%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) climbed 2%.HealthcareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 1.2%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) added 1.3%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was up 1.3%. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 1%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) rose 0.1%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were marginally higher.CryptocurrencyIn midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 1.8%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) dipped 1.9%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) lost 2.1%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 2.2% lower.

Dow Jones^EEM^EXI^FAS^FAZ^GLD^IBB^IGM^IGV^IPK^IVV^IWMNasdaq Composite^IYE^IYH^IYJ^IYK^IYW^PMR^QQQ^RTH^SOXXS&P 500^SPY^UNG^USO^VDC^VHT^VIS^XLE^XLF^XLI^XLK^XLP^XLV^XRT^XSD$BETH$BITO$EETH
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Rise Amid Rumors of Iran Peace Deal, Surprise Easing in Fed's Preferred Inflation Measure

US equity indexes rose amid speculation of an agreement over a path to end the war against Iran and as the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation rate unexpectedly eased in April.The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.8% to 26,880.1, the S&P 500 advanced 0.6% to 7,562.2, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by less than 0.1% to 50,678.5 after midday on Thursday.Healthcare and technology led the gainers intraday. Financials, utilities, and consumer staples were among the decliners.Negotiators for the US and Iran reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin talks on Iran's nuclear program, but President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval, Axios reported Thursday, citing two US officials. The White House didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.Brent crude futures fell 0.6% to $93.70. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 0.2% to $88.86, off session highs of more than 1% gain.In precious metals, gold futures jumped 1.1% to $4,532.3, and silver futures climbed 1.4% to $75.91.Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 2.8 basis points to 4.46%. The two-year declined 1.5 basis points to 4.02%.On a month-on-month basis, the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, price index slowed to 0.4% from 0.7% in March, Bureau of Economic Analysis data showed Thursday. The Street expected 0.5% in a Bloomberg-compiled poll. The core PCE price index, which excludes the more volatile food and energy and is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, grew by 0.2% versus March's 0.3%, also the consensus for April.Annually, the PCE index jumped 3.8% in April, the largest increase since May 2023, up from 3.5% in March but in line with market expectations. Core PCE climbed to 3.3%, as expected, from the 3.2% in March.US economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, rose by 1.6% in Q1, revised lower from a 2.0% increase in the advance estimate. No revision was expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. GDP rose by 0.5% in Q4.New orders for US durable goods rose by 7.9% in April following a 1.3% increase in March, beating the 4.0% gain forecast in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Excluding a 21.5% surge in transportation orders, new orders would have been up 1.1% in April after a 1.1% increase in March. Expectations were for a 0.5% gain.In company news, Dollar Tree (DLTR) shares soared 18%, the second-biggest gainer on the S&P 500, after the company posted higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance.The worst performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq was Synopsys (SNPS), down 8.4%, after the company reported a decline in fiscal Q2 non-GAAP earnings.Best Buy (BBY) shares catapulted 18%, the top performer on the S&P 500, after the firm reported higher-than-expected fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BBY$DLTR$SNPS