Market Chatter: Trump Mulls Military Action as Ceasefire With Iran 'On Life Support

Update: WTI Oil Rises as the United States Rejects Iran's Response to Its Peace Proposal

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil rose on Monday after the United States rejected Iran's response to its peace proposal, calling it unacceptable, continuing the war that has produced the largest-ever energy supply shock.WTIcrude oil for June delivery closed up US$2.65 to settle at US$98.07 per barrel, while July Brent oil was last seen up US$3.47 to US$104.76.Iran replied to a U.S. peace offer last week with a plan of its own, delivering a response on Sunday that included demands for compensation for war damages, acknowledgement of its control of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to Israel's war on Lebanon and the removal of sanctions on it oil exports and nuclear enrichment program.Iran's demands were dismissed by U.S. President Trump. who called the demands "totally unacceptable" in a social media post.The war launched by the United States and Israel is now in its tenth week, leaving the Strait of Hormuz closed to tankers that delivered 20% of daily demand for oil, LNG and refined products. Iran's blockade of the Strait has forced Asian nations that rely on Persian Gulf imports to bid up spot prices for oil, caused shortages of aviation fuel and raised inflation as gasoline costs climb."The two sides continue to maintain a fragile ceasefire while the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz drags on. After briefly trading down to USD 96 last week on renewed hopes the strait would reopen, Brent has rebounded above USD 105. Morgan Stanley has described the situation as a "race against time," warning that recent mitigating factors - such as a surge in U.S. exports (+3.8 mb/d YoY over the past 30 days) and weaker Chinese imports (-5.5 mb/d) - cannot persist indefinitely. That increasingly leaves demand destruction through slower consumption growth and higher prices as the only viable mechanisms to rebalance the market," Saxo Bank wrote.

June WTI Crude Oil Contract Closes Up US$2.65; Settles at US$98.07 per Barrel

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Mixed Monday Afternoon

Financial stocks were mixed in Monday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index dropping 0.2% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) edging up 0.1%.The Philadelphia Housing Index shed 0.8%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) rose 0.3%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 0.7% to $81,616, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 4.2 basis points to 4.406%.In economic news, the pace of US existing home sales increased 0.2% to a 4.02 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in April from 4.01 million in March, below the expectations for a 4.05 million rate in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, data from the National Association of Realtors showed.In sector news, the White House is reviewing a plan for the US Securities and Exchange Commission to end the so-called gag rule that lets companies and people settle enforcement actions without admitting wrongdoing if they vow not to dispute the allegations, Bloomberg reported.In corporate news, Blackstone's (BX) real estate debt arm, Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies, launched a lending platform to provide capital and flexibility to US homebuilders, aiming to support construction of over 50,000 for-sale homes annually. Blackstone shares fell 1.5%.Apollo Global Management (APO) said its managed funds agreed to buy Emerald Holding (EEX) and Questex to form a combined business events platform. Separately, Apollo is in discussions with potential buyers to sell its MidCap Financial Investment (MFIC) business development company, the Wall Street Journal reported. Apollo values the business at about $3 billion, the report said. Apollo shares fell 1.5%, and MidCap Financial Investment dropped 3.5%.Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) is well positioned heading into its fundraising cycle, with its private equity and infrastructure flagships, along with 60 fundraising strategies driving an estimated $150 billion in fundraising in 2026, RBC Capital Markets said. Brookfield shares fell 1.5%.