FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

US Equity Indexes Mixed Amid Planned Layoffs Surging to Third-Highest Since 2009, Iran Peace Deal in Works

By

US equity indexes traded mixed midday Thursday as investors weighed a surge in planned April layoffs to the third-highest since 2009, ahead of Iran's response to a Washington proposal to restart peace talks.

The Nasdaq traded 0.6% higher at 25,981.1 after touching a record 26,036.38 intraday. The S&P 500 was up 0.1% to 7,374.7 after hitting an all-time high of 7,385.02 earlier in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, fell 0.2% to 49,830.5, after briefly trading above the 50,000 mark. Its all-time high is 50,512.79.

The US and Iran are edging toward a temporary pact to halt the war, sources and officials told Reuters on Thursday, with Tehran reviewing a proposal to stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved.

The two countries are working with mediators to formulate a one-page framework to restart talks aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations possibly starting in Pakistan next week, The Wall Street Journal reported.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures dropped 3.2% to $92.06, and Brent crude futures slumped 3% to $98.20, extending declines on expectations of a reopening of Hormuz, the chokepoint for about a fifth of global crude oil flows.

In economic news, employers in the US announced 83,387 job cuts in April, up 38% from March, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday. The two previous highs were 105,441 job cuts recorded in April 2025 and 671,129 in April 2020, the global outplacement firm added.

Related Articles

Japan

US Equity Markets End Higher as Nasdaq, S&P 500 Hit Records After Reports on US-Iran Peace Deal, Upbeat AMD Results

US equity indexes ended higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite reaching new highs as the US-Iran closed in on a peace deal and Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) Q1 results led a rally in semiconductor stocks.* The White House is close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran and set a framework for more detailed negotiations about Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.* Employment in the US private sector grew in April, ADP data showed Wednesday, ahead of nonfarm payrolls due later in the week. Private jobs grew by 109,000, representing the fastest growth pace since January 2025, compared with 120,000 expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.* June West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $7.23 to settle at $95.04 per barrel, while July Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $8.59 at $101.28.* Advanced Micro Devices shares were up more than 18%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the chipmaker overnight posted stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issued an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook.* Arista Networks (ANET) shares were down nearly 14%, among the worst S&P 500 performers, after the cloud networking company issued a Q2 revenue outlook late Tuesday slightly below market estimates.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$ANET
Japan

S&P 500, Nasdaq Break Records as Iran Peace Deal Reportedly in Offing, AMD Helps Boost Technology

US equity indexes rose after midday Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite scaling new all-time peaks, amid growing expectations of a peace deal with Iran and as quarterly earnings lifted the technology landscape.The Nasdaq traded 1.5% higher at 25,704.2 after touching a record 25,708.84 intraday. The S&P 500 was up 1.2% to 7,346.5 after hitting an all-time high of 7,348.35 earlier in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.2% to 49,892.6.The White House is of the view that an agreement with Tehran -- a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations -- is close, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue. Washington's MoU, if Iran accepts it, will lead to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the American blockade on Iranian ports, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures sank 6.9% to $95.34, and Brent crude futures plunged 7.7% to $102.20.In company news, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares surged 17%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the chipmaker overnight posted stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issued an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD
Japan

Oil Prices Slip, Potential Middle East Peace Agreement Drives US Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell

US equity futures were higher pre-bell Wednesday as oil prices slipped and a peace agreement between the US and Iran was reportedly close to being finalized.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 1.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.9%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.6% higher.The White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the conflict and establish a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, according to an Axios report, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he had paused "Project Freedom," a military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to see if an agreement with Iran can be signed.Traders kept an eye on the latest round of earnings, with AMD (AMD) reporting stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issuing an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook. Walt Disney (DIS) posted higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that also surpassed analysts' estimates.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 11.1% at $98.74 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 10.9% lower at $91.41 per barrel.The national employment report for April from ADP, expected at 8:15 am ET, is seen showing an increase of 120,000 from 62,000 in the prior month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The Treasury Refunding quarterly announcement is expected at 8:30 am.Federal Reserve St. Louis President Alberto Musalem is slated to speak at 9:30 am, and Chicago President Austan Goolsbee speaks at 1 pm ET.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$DIS