US equity indexes traded mixed as crude oil futures rose and government bond yields remained elevated after midday Monday amid reports of an updated peace proposal from Iran to end the war.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.7% to 26,047.1, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 7,389.2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% to 49,595.5.
Technology and industrials led decliners intraday. Energy, financials, and communication services were among the top gainers.
Iran has offered an updated proposal, which the White House sees as lacking meaningful improvement over the previous offer, rendering the latest version insufficient to reach a deal to end the war, a senior US official and a source briefed on the issue told Axios.
However, a senior Iranian source told Reuters that the US had agreed to release a quarter of Iran's frozen funds - totaling tens of billions of dollars - held in foreign banks. The Iranian source also told the news agency that Washington has shown more flexibility in allowing Iran to continue some peaceful nuclear activity under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is expected to meet top national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for resuming military action, Axios said in a separate news report. "The Clock is Ticking" for Iran, Trump said in a post on Truth Social at the weekend, adding that "they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!"
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 0.9% to $106.24, and Brent crude futures advanced 0.9% to $110.28.
US Treasury yields traded mixed, but elevated. The 10-year was little changed at 4.6%, the highest since January 2025. The 30-year rate was steady at 5.13%, the strongest level since 2007.
In precious metals, gold futures slipped 0.1% to $4,558.1, and silver futures were steady at $77.59.
In economic news, the National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index rose to a reading of 37 in May from 34 in April, compared with expectations for a 34 print in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The index was above the 34 print reported a year earlier.
"Recent increases for long-term interest rates will continue to hold back home buyer demand," said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. "Although some regional markets, including parts of the Midwest, are showing relative strength, the housing market continues to face significant affordability challenges."
The New York Federal Reserve's services index improved to minus 5.8 in May from minus 14.0 in April, the highest level since January 2025. The index is the first services sector reading for May and suggests a slower contraction.
In company news, NextEra Energy (NEE) and Dominion Energy (D) agreed to merge in an all-stock deal to create the world's largest regulated electric utility. Shares of Dominion jumped 8.8%, the second-biggest gainer on the S&P 500.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' (REGN) miss on the fianlimab trial may lead some investors to question the company's broader strategy and execution, RBC Capital Markets said. Regeneron's shares sank 9.7%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq.