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Wire

Royal Caribbean Faces Reduction in 2028 EPS After Mexico Rejects Perfect Day Project, Morgan Stanley Says

Royal Caribbean (RCL) is facing a reduction in earnings for 2028 and beyond following Mexico's decision to deny an environmental permit to the company's Perfect Day Mexico project, Morgan Stanley said in a Friday note.Morgan Stanley said it reduced its 2028 EPS growth estimate to 12% from 20%, and its 2025 to 2030 EPS compound annual growth rate to 13% from 15%.The company was expecting significant earnings gains beginning in 2028 from the proposed 200-acre Perfect Day development at Costa Maya in Quintana Roo, Morgan Stanley said, adding it had assumed 3 million passengers in 2028 rising to 5 million by 2030, each spending around $100 and boosting fleet ticket prices in the high single digits.Looking ahead, the company has two plausible paths to recovery, namely a revised environmental application that satisfies the government's concerns or finding an alternative less ecologically sensitive location, according to the note. Either would mean significant delays, the analysts said.Morgan Stanley lowered its Royal Caribbean price target to $280 from $310 and maintained its equal-weight rating.Price: $265.51, Change: $+9.41, Percent Change: +3.67%

$RCL
Wire

Royal Caribbean to Reassess Mexico Investment After Water Park Rejected

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) plans to review its prospects for investment in Mexico after authorities rejected a water park project on the country's Mexico's Caribbean coast over environmental concerns."We will re-engage stakeholders to move forward in a way that delivers shared prosperity through the development of essential environmental infrastructure, the creation of thousands of local jobs, and community programs that support the people of Mexico," the company said Wednesday in an emailed statement to.Reuters reported Tuesday that the project had been vetoed by the government, citing Alicia Barcena, the country's environment minister, at a press conference.Scheduled to open in fall 2027 in Mahahual, a beach town near a coral reef, the Perfect Day Mexico project included beach clubs, pools, bars and more than 30 waterslides, the report said.Royan Caribbean said it was disappointed by the government's decision but respects the role of Mexico's environmental authorities. "We continue to believe in Mexico and are optimistic in the potential to advance our investment responsibly," the company said.Price: $244.40, Change: $-2.80, Percent Change: -1.13%

$RCL
Research

Research Alert: Rcl: Mexico Setback Threatens Key Growth Catalyst; Maintaining Hold Opinion

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Shares of RCL have fallen 9% WTD following reports that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the company's 'Perfect Day Mexico' project in Quintana Roo, citing environmental concerns. The news is particularly troubling given management's Q1 commentary suggesting ecological concerns had been resolved and construction of the roughly $1B project had resumed. Management projected 90% of Caribbean guests would visit a private destination by 2027, up from 70% currently. Perfect Day Mexico was central to this target and critical for capturing the high-growth Texas drive-to-cruise market. The rejection creates multiple risks, including unrecoverable sunk costs, the 90% penetration target now in jeopardy, and elevated risk for Royal Beach Club Cozumel, being in the same region. We maintain Hold as the 9% sell-off reflects the immediate bad news and current demand remains strong otherwise. However, we lower our price target by $28 to $262 (12x 2026E EBITDA, down from 13x) to account for increased execution risk.

$RCL
Wire

Morgan Stanley Adjusts Price Target on Royal Caribbean Group to $310 From $330

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $346.57, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $269.19, Change: $+5.43, Percent Change: +2.06%

$RCL
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Lowers Opinion On Shares Of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd To Hold From Buy

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lower our 12-month target by $97 to $290, based on a 13x 2026 EV/EBITDA multiple (from 16x), a discount to shares' 15x three-year average forward average multiple, reflecting risks to earnings growth stemming from elevated fuel costs. We lower our 2026 EPS estimate to $17.42 from $18.18 and 2027's to $19.92 from $20.40. Following Q1 results, we are downgrading our opinion to Hold from Buy. Our revised opinion reflects our view on elevated fuel costs, which are expected to increase 2026 fuel expenses by $200M compared to RCL's prior guidance in February. Furthermore, geopolitical disruptions moderated booking demand for high-yield Mediterranean and West Coast Mexico itineraries, suggesting potential for net yield growth to disappoint in Q2 and Q3. Although shares are already trading below their three-year averages, we think the setup is for earnings upside has become less favorable. This is balanced by still strong demand trends and ongoing net yield growth in Q1, suggesting demand remains resilient.

$RCL
Wire

JPMorgan Adjusts Price Target on Royal Caribbean Group to $345 From $341, Maintains Overweight Rating

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $345.35, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $266.70, Change: $+12.69, Percent Change: +5.00%

$RCL
Research

Research Alert: Rcl: Strong Q1 Beat On Demand Strength; Lowers Full-year Guidance

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:RCL reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $3.60, up 33% Y/Y and significantly beating the $3.20 consensus estimate. Total revenue of $4.45B, up 11%, was in line with consensus, while onboard revenue surged 14% and net yields grew 2% excluding currency effects. In our view, the strong onboard spending result signals consumer willingness to spend and reflects RCL's effective push to capture destination spending through private island destinations and targeted marketing. Management lowered 2026 adjusted EPS guidance this quarter to $17.10-$17.50, from $17.70-$18.10, citing higher fuel costs and geopolitical impacts. We believe the 300bps expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins to 38% showcases the operational leverage inherent in the business model, with net cruise costs excluding fuel rising only 0.6% in constant currency. The company's strong balance sheet with $6.9B liquidity and $1.1B returned to shareholders this quarter demonstrates its continued ability to invest in growth while rewarding shareholders.

$RCL
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Premarket Thursday

Consumer stocks were mixed premarket Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) down 0.1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) 1% higher.Unilever (UL) stock was up more than 1% after the company reported a 3.8% underlying sales growth, along with a 3.3% decline in turnover, in Q1.Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) shares were up more than 6% after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Smurfit Westrock (SW) stock was down more than 6% after the company posted a decline in Q1 adjusted earnings.

$RCL$SW$UL$XLP$XLY
US Markets

Stocks Mostly Up Pre-Bell as Traders Digest Big Tech Earnings, Await Key Inflation Report

US equity markets were mostly pointing higher before the opening bell Thursday as investors digest the latest financial results from some of the biggest technology companies and await a key inflation report.The S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq added 0.2% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2%. The indexes finished the previous trading session mixed.Shares of Meta Platforms (META) fell 8.8% pre-bell after the Facebook parent lifted its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing, even though it reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. Microsoft (MSFT) decreased 1.8% as the tech giant said its capital expenditures will be about $190 billion in 2026, while its fiscal third-quarter results topped market estimates."It's crystal clear to us that the (artificial intelligence) revolution is accelerating at a warp speed pace with 2026 being an inflection point year for AI with hyperscalers now investing over $700 billion in (capital expenditures) in (2026) to capitalize on the opportunities in the space," Wedbush Securities said in a Thursday client note.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) class A and C shares climbed more than 6% each amid upbeat first-quarter results. Amazon (AMZN) inclined 2.5% as the e-commerce giant issued a strong second-quarter revenue outlook.iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after the markets close. Eli Lilly (LLY), Mastercard (MA), Caterpillar (CAT), Merck (MRK), Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Hershey (HSY) are slated to announce their results before the bell, among others.The personal income and outlays report for March is due to be released at 8:30 am ET. The report includes the personal consumption expenditure core price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric.The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as policymakers saw the Middle East conflict fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook. In a post-meeting press conference, Jerome Powell said he will stay on as a Fed governor for an indefinite period after his term as Fed chief expires on May 15.The US Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday voted to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination as Fed chair to the Republican-controlled Senate.Treasury yields were down in premarket action, with the two-year rate retreating 3.2 basis points to 3.9% and the 10-year rate off 1.8 basis points to 4.4%.President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing on fresh potential military options against Iran on Thursday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge. Trump recently told the news outlet that he will maintain the US naval blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 0.2% to $106.62 a barrel before the open, while Brent decreased 1.6% to $116.20.Thursday's economic calendar also has the initial estimate report for the first-quarter gross domestic product at 8:30 am, along with the weekly jobless claims bulletin. The Chicago purchasing managers' index for April posts at 9:45 am.Gold rose 1.8% to $4,642 per troy ounce, while bitcoin moved 0.7% higher to $75,974.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$HSY$LLY$MA$META$MRK$MSFT$RCL
Wire

Truist Securities Adjusts Royal Caribbean Price Target to $318 From $327, Maintains Hold Rating

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $350.61, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $259.80, Change: $-0.72, Percent Change: -0.28%

$RCL
Wire

BofA Securities Adjusts Royal Caribbean Price Target to $310 From $330

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $204.64, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $269.34, Change: $-2.13, Percent Change: -0.78%

$RCL
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Hit New Peaks as Iran Reopens Hormuz

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 notched new peaks on Friday after Iran announced a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices tumbling.The Nasdaq rose 1.5% to 24,468.5, while the S&P 500 added 1.2% to 7,126.1, notching record-high closing levels for the third straight day. The Nasdaq extended its advance to a 13th consecutive session, its longest winning streak since 1992, according to CNBC.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.8% to 49,447.9.Barring energy and utilities, all sectors were in the green, led by consumer discretionary's 2% jump.The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 saw their biggest weekly gains since May last year, rising 6.8% and 4.5%, respectively, this week. The Dow advanced 3.2% this week, the most since June.West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 11% to $84.68 a barrel in Friday late-afternoon trade, while Brent lost 8.7% to $90.71."In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire," Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday in a post on the X platform.Vessels must move through a "coordinated route" announced by Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, Araghchi said.On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that seeks to pause hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. That was a key sticking point in peace negotiations between the US and Iran."Araghchi's statement represents a significant and unexpected diplomatic opening," Artem Abramov, deputy head of analysis at Rystad Energy, said in a note e-mailed to. "The Strait of Hormuz has been the single most consequential variable in global oil markets since the conflict escalated, and any credible signal that the chokepoint may reopen, even temporarily, is a market-moving development of the first order."Trump welcomed the reopening of the strait, though he said the US naval blockade of Iran's ports will continue until "our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.""The news that Iran will allow traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz could be an important turning point and the catalyst for upgrades to our economic forecasts, but not immediately," Oxford Economics said in a note. "The development increases the risk that a more lasting deal could be brokered, reducing the likelihood of extreme downside scenarios crystalizing."Shares of cruise line operators and airlines jumped, with Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) up 7.3%, the best performer on the S&P 500, followed United Airlines (UAL) and Carnival (CCL). Southwest Airlines (LUV) rose 5.1%.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down seven basis points at 4.25% and the two-year rate dropping 7.4 basis point to 3.71%.In company news, Netflix (NFLX) shares tumbled 9.7%, the third-worst performer on the S&P 500.The streaming giant late Thursday posted first-quarter revenue above Wall Street's estimates. However, the company disappointed investors by maintaining its margin outlook even though its cost base apparently would have benefited from its decision to walk away from a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), MoffettNathanson said in a note Friday.Gold was last up 1.3% at $4,871.10 per troy ounce, while silver gained 3.4% to $81.40 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CCL$LUV$NFLX$RCL$UAL$WBD
Asia Markets

S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite Scale Peaks as Trump Sets Stage for Iran Deal Over Weekend

US equity indexes jumped, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite making all-time highs, and crude oil futures sank on Friday amid mounting expectations of an Iran peace deal over the weekend.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.5% to 24,468.48, with the S&P 500 up 1.2% to 7,126.06, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 1.8% to 49,447.43.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures plunged 11% to $84.68, and Brent crude futures plummeted 8.8% to $90.69.Bloomberg reported that President Donald Trump said Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely and will not receive any frozen funds from the US. Axios reported Friday that the US could release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran turning over its stockpile of enriched uranium.Trump said in a phone interview on Friday that a deal to end the war is mostly complete, according to the Bloomberg news report. Talks over a lasting agreement will "probably" be held this weekend, the president was cited as saying. The US-Iran ceasefire ends next week, implying an extension to the truce may not be required.Earlier in the day, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of the ceasefire period."In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said in a post on X. The 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon came into force on Thursday.Trump also said Friday the US naval blockade will continue until a deal with Iran is "100% complete," CNN reported."The single war variable that has mattered for markets is whether oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz," according to a Stifel Securities research note. "This is why today's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is 'open to shipping' for the remainder of the ceasefire is significant."Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 6.5 basis points to 4.25% and the two-year slumped 7.8 basis points to 3.7% as falling crude oil prices damped inflation concerns. In precious metals, gold futures advanced 1.3% to $4,868.1 and silver futures jumped 3.2% to $81.24.All sectors except energy and utilities soared intraday. Consumer discretionary, industrials, and technology led the gainers.Airlines and cruise liners were the S&P 500's leaders. Royal Caribbean (RCL), United Airlines (UAL), and Carnival (CCL) led the outperformers, with gains of at least 7% each. Chevron (CVX), down 2.2%, was the Dow's worst performer.In company news, shares of Netflix (NFLX) slid 9.7%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company released Q2 guidance late Thursday below market consensus. The streaming company also said that its chairman and co-founder, Reed Hastings, plans to step down when his term ends in June.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CCL$CVX$NFLX$RCL$UAL
US Markets

Equities Rally Intraday, Oil Plunges After Iran Declares Hormuz Strait Open

US benchmark equity indexes advanced intraday, while oil prices slumped after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz "completely open" following a ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.9% at 49,507.9 after midday Friday. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.4% to 24,447.8, while the S&P 500 rose 1.2% to 7,126.6. The two indexes notched their second consecutive record-high closes in the previous session.Barring energy and utilities, all sectors were in the green intraday Friday, led by consumer discretionary's 2.7% jump.West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 11% to $84.20 a barrel, while Brent lost 9% to $90.44."In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire," Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday in a post on the X platform.Vessels must move through a "coordinated route" announced by Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, Araghchi said.On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that seeks to pause hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. That was a key sticking point in peace negotiations between the US and Iran.Trump welcomed the reopening of the strait, though he said on Truth Social that the US naval blockade of Iran's ports will continue until "our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.""The news that Iran will allow traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz could be an important turning point and the catalyst for upgrades to our economic forecasts, but not immediately," Oxford Economics said in a note. "The development increases the risk that a more lasting deal could be brokered, reducing the likelihood of extreme downside scenarios crystalizing."A quarter-long closure of the strait will likely push US inflation higher by 0.6 percentage point this year, researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said in an article Friday.Shares of cruise line operators and airlines surged intraday, with Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) up 8.2%, the best performer on the S&P 500, followed by Carnival's (CCL) 7.8% gain. United Airlines (UAL) jumped 7.6%, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) climbed 6.5%, among the top gainers on the index.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 6.3 basis points at 4.25% and the two-year rate dropping 7.8 basis point to 3.69%.In company news, Netflix (NFLX) shares were down 10% intraday, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500.The streaming giant late Thursday posted first-quarter revenue above Wall Street's estimates. However, the company disappointed investors by maintaining its margin outlook even though its cost base apparently would have benefited from its decision to walk away from a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), MoffettNathanson said in a note Friday.Gold was up 1.5% at $4,881.40 per troy ounce, while silver gained 3.8% to $81.71 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CCL$LUV$NFLX$RCL$UAL$WBD
Asia Markets

S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite Hit Records as Iran Reopens Hormuz Chokepoint for Ceasefire Period

US equity indexes jumped, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite making all-time highs, and crude oil futures sank in midday trading on Friday after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of the ceasefire period.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.6% to 24,505.1, with the S&P 500 up 1.5% to 7,144.2, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 2.3% to 49,700.3.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures plunged 12% to $83.41, and Brent crude futures plummeted 10% to $89.06."In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon came into force on Thursday.US President Donald Trump said that the US naval blockade will continue until a deal with Iran is "100% complete," CNN reported. He expressed confidence that a deal will come soon, saying talks could happen this weekend. The US-Iran ceasefire ends next week.Meanwhile, the US and Iran are discussing a plan as part of their peace talks that would see the US release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran turning over its stockpile of enriched uranium, Axios reported Friday, citing two US officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks."The single war variable that has mattered for markets is whether oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz," according to a Stifel Securities research note. "This is why today's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is 'open to shipping' for the remainder of the ceasefire is significant."US Treasury yields sank, with the 10-year down 7.5 basis points to 4.23% and the two-year dropped 8.4 basis points to 3.69% as falling crude oil prices damped inflation concerns. In precious metals, gold futures advanced 1.8% to $4,894.5 and silver futures jumped 4.8% to $82.51.All sectors except energy and utilities soared intraday. Consumer discretionary, industrials, and technology led the gainers.Airlines and cruise liners were the S&P 500's leaders. Royal Caribbean (RCL), United Airlines (UAL), and Carnival (CCL) led the outperformers, with gains of at least 8.6% each. Chevron (CVX), down 3.3%, was the Dow's worst performer.In company news, shares of Netflix (NFLX) slid 9.6%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company released Q2 guidance late Thursday below market consensus. The streaming company also said that its chairman and co-founder, Reed Hastings, plans to step down when his term ends in June.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CCL$CVX$NFLX$RCL$UAL
Wire

Royal Caribbean Faces Estimate Cuts as Europe Cruise Demand Softens, UBS Says

Royal Caribbean (RCL) is facing a downward revision for 2026 financial estimates as geopolitical tensions dampen demand for European cruises among North American travelers, UBS Securities said in a report Tuesday.The firm reduced the company's 2026 full-year yield growth estimate to 1.5% from 3%, which is below consensus, and cut Q2 and Q3 projections due to weaker pricing and bookings for near-term "European sailings." Q1 and Q4 estimates were "unchanged," supported by limited Europe exposure and stronger Caribbean demand, respectively, according to the report.Channel checks showed some cruise lines lowering prices for European itineraries, with cancellations affecting bookings, while Alaska demand has "firmed up in recent weeks" and Caribbean demand is "holding up." The firm noted that longer-term bookings for 2027 European travel seem "very strong."The analyst also said Royal Caribbean Group may find it difficult to "trim expenses" in line with weaker yields, though cuts to "non-core expenses" could help keep net cruise costs "roughly flat," UBS said.UBS has a buy rating on Royal Caribbean and lowered its price target to $321 from $350.Price: $282.12, Change: $-0.29, Percent Change: -0.10%

$RCL
Wire

UBS Adjusts Price Target on Royal Caribbean Group to $321 From $350, Maintains Buy Rating

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $356.74, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $283.25, Change: $+0.84, Percent Change: +0.30%

$RCL
Wire

UBS Adjusts Price Target on Royal Caribbean to $350 From $371, Maintains Buy Rating

Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $358, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)Price: $275.22, Change: $-1.73, Percent Change: -0.62%

$RCL
US Markets

Equities Mark Best Finish in At Least 4 Weeks Following US-Iran Truce

Equities on Wall Street rallied Wednesday, driving key indexes to their highest close in at least four weeks, as oil prices slid following a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.9% to 47,909.9, the highest close since March 5, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.8% to 22,635, its best finish since March 11.The S&P 500 advanced 2.5% to 6,782.8, marking the highest closing level since March 9.Barring energy's 3.7% decline, all sectors ended in the green, led by industrials' 3.8% advance.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last down nearly 15% at $96.44 a barrel, while Brent futures tumbled about 12% to $96.40 -- though both benchmarks remained well above pre-conflict levels.US President Donald Trump, who had set an 8 pm ET, Tuesday, deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran for two weeks upon Pakistan's request. Tehran said it would allow "safe passage" through the key trading route, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities.However, reports about ceasefire violations signified the possible fragile nature of the pact.Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement.The White House said Iran assured that ships are transiting the Strait of Hormuz, despite reports that Tehran had again closed the waterway because of Israel's attacks on Lebanon, CNN reported.Separately, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reportedly said they were targeted with Iranian drones and missiles."The headlines may calm down first, but the real reset depends on what happens in the days ahead," Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Bank, said in a report.US Treasury yields were down, with the 10-year rate falling 5 basis points at 4.3% and the two-year rate dropping 4.1 basis points at 3.79%.Minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting showed that participants emphasized the need for the central bank to be "nimble" in adjusting monetary policy amid heightened macro risks."The vast majority of participants judged that upside risks to inflation and downside risks to employment were elevated, and the majority of participants noted that these risks had increased with developments in the Middle East," the minutes showed.Most policymakers were concerned that a prolonged war could soften labor market conditions, possibly warranting policy easing, according to the minutes. However, persistent inflation amid higher oil prices could call for rate increases."The conflicting viewpoints point to a period of policy stability," Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in a report. "The Fed is on hold until it has greater clarity on the direction of the Iran war and its effects on the economy and inflation."Airline and cruise operator stocks jumped, with Carnival (CCL) up 11%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500. United Airlines (UAL) surged 7.8%. Southwest Airlines (LUV) and American Airlines (AAL) were also up, along with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).In company news, Meta Platforms (META) shares jumped 6.5% after the tech giant unveiled its Muse Spark artificial intelligence model.Delta Air Lines (DAL) logged better-than-expected first-quarter results amid robust corporate and leisure demand. The air carrier's shares rose 3.8%.Exxon Mobil (XOM) expects its global oil-equivalent output to take a hit in the first quarter due to production disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Shares of the US oil giant fell 4.7%, while smaller rival Chevron (CVX) slumped 4.3%, the steepest decline on the Dow.Gold was last up 1.4% at $4,750.70 per troy ounce, while silver gained 3.4% to $74.44 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$CCL$CVX$DAL$LUV$META$NCLH$RCL$UAL$XOM
US Markets

Equity Markets Jump Intraday, Oil Sinks Following US-Iran Ceasefire

US benchmark equity indexes rallied intraday, while oil prices slumped after Washington and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.9% to 22,651.5 after midday Wednesday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.6% to 47,803.5. The S&P 500 advanced 2.4% to 6,778.6. Barring energy's 4.6% decline, all sectors were in the green, led by a 3.9% rise in communication services.West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 15% to $95.85 a barrel intraday, while Brent futures tumbled 13% to $95.40.US President Donald Trump, who had set an 8 pm ET, Tuesday, deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran for two weeks upon Pakistan's request. Tehran said it would allow "safe passage" through the key trading route, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities.However, reports about ceasefire violations signified the possible fragile nature of the pact."While markets are hailing the agreement as cause for celebration, it remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold, and if flows resume through the Strait of Hormuz," Stifel said in a note.Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the waterway after Israel attacked Lebanon, CNN reported Wednesday, citing semi-official news agency Fars. Separately, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reportedly said they were targeted with Iranian drones and missiles.Airline and cruise operator stocks jumped intraday, with Carnival (CCL) up 11%, the top gainer on the S&P 500. United Airlines (UAL) surged 9.9%, among the best performers on the index. Southwest Airlines (LUV) and American Airlines (AAL) were also up sharply, along with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 6.4 basis points at 4.28% and the two-year rate dropping six basis points to 3.77%.In company news, Meta Platforms (META) shares soared 7.9%, among the best performers on the S&P 500, after the tech giant unveiled its Muse Spark artificial intelligence model.Delta Air Lines (DAL) logged better-than-expected first-quarter results amid robust corporate and leisure demand. The air carrier's shares were up 5.8% intraday.Exxon Mobil (XOM) expects its global oil-equivalent output to take a hit in the first quarter due to production disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Shares of the US oil giant were down 5.9%, while smaller rival Chevron (CVX) fell 5.5%, the steepest decline on the Dow.Gold was up 1.7% at $4,764.70 per troy ounce, while silver gained 4.7% to $75.35 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$CCL$CVX$DAL$LUV$META$NCLH$RCL$UAL$XOM