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US Equity Indexes Fall as Vance's Trip to Pakistan on Hold Ahead of Iran Ceasefire Deadline

US equity indexes fell on Tuesday, while crude oil futures jumped as President Donald Trump reportedly extended the Iran ceasefire deal until Tehran submits a "unified proposal" to end the war.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,334.81, with the S&P 500 down 0.6% to 7,064.01 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.6% to 49,149.38. All three gauges traded higher earlier in the session. All sectors except energy fell. Real estate, utilities, and industrials led the decliners.Trump said he has extended the ceasefire until Tehran submits a proposal to end the conflict permanently, CNN reported late Tuesday. The ceasefire was due to expire on Wednesday evening ET. Trump said he will continue the US blockade of Iranian ports.Trump said the extension was warranted as Tehran's government is "seriously fractured," CNBC reported.Vice President JD Vance was set to leave Tuesday morning for Pakistan, the expected location for the US-Iran talks, but his trip has been put on hold, CNN reported. The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding a second round of talks, CNN cited sources as saying.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 2.8% to $92.13, and Brent crude futures advanced 1.6% to $96.98.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 4.8 basis points to 4.3% and the two-year climbed 6.9 basis points to 3.79%.Gold futures declined 2.3% to $4,718.1 and silver futures dropped 4.7% to $76.28.In economic news, US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above the 1.4% increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and following the previous month's revised 0.7% gain. Removing both motor vehicles and a 15.5% surge in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.6% in March, the same as in February.Pending home sales rose by 1.5% in March, above the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 2.5% increase in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly sales index was down 1.1% from March 2025.In company news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its Q1 results. Shares jumped 7%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal Q2 results came in better than expected, although the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. Shares advanced 5.8%, among the S&P 500's outperformers.Moody's (MCO) said Tuesday that it is deepening its partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) by embedding its credit intelligence into Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI-driven enterprise tools, expanding its presence across financial workflows. Shares of Microsoft rose 1.5%, among the Dow's leaders.Apple (AAPL) shares fell 2.5%, among the Dow's laggards, a day after the company said that Tim Cook will become executive chairman after a nearly 15-year stint as chief executive officer, effective Sept 1.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$MCO$MSFT$UNH

Asia Markets63d ago

Exchange-Traded Funds Fall as US Equities Decline After Midday

Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV were lower. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) shed 0.1%.US equity indexes fell, giving up intraday gains, as crude oil futures gathered momentum in midday trading on Tuesday, with investors still awaiting confirmation from Iran that it will attend the second round of peace talks in Pakistan.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each gained about 0.8%.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was up 0.1%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) fell 0.3% and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) added 0.2%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) rose 1.6%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was up 0.6%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) shed 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) declined 0.8%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), climbed 0.8%.CommoditiesCrude oil rose 4.9%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) gained 4%. Natural gas was up 0.4%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) added 0.7%.Gold on Comex lost 1.9%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) fell 2.1%. Silver shed 4.1%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) declined 4.1%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) eased 0.4%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) fell 0.3%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was 0.9% lower.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) fell fractionally. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) rose 0.2%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) dipped 0.1%.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.7%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) declined 0.7%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 0.8% lower. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 0.8%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) lost 1%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) also declined.CryptocurrencyIn midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) shed 0.6%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) fell 0.3%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) lost 0.8%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was down 1.9%.

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 Markets63d ago

US Equity Indexes Slip as Investors Await Fate of Iran Peace Talks in Pakistan

US equity indexes gave up intraday gains as crude oil futures gathered momentum after midday Tuesday, amid a fast-approaching deadline for Washington and Tehran to find a deal in the second round of talks in Pakistan.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,339.8, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 7,087.2 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.2% to 49,370.3. All three gauges traded higher earlier in the session alongside corporate results.All sectors except consumer discretionary and energy fell, with real estate and industrials leading the decliners.President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he expects the US and Iran to make a "great deal," referring to the proposed second round of talks in Islamabad that Iran has yet to confirm it will attend. The president added, however, that the US military is "ready" to bomb Iran if a deal is not signed by the ceasefire deadline late Wednesday and that he does not want to extend it.Iran has told regional mediators it would send a negotiating team to Islamabad on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. But Tehran hasn't publicly confirmed it will send representatives, and Iran's top negotiator said, "We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats."West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 4.3% to $93.50, and Brent crude futures advanced 2.8% to $98.17.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 4.8 basis points to 4.3% and the two-year climbing 6.5 basis points to 3.78%.Gold futures declined 1.1% to $4,775.6 and silver futures dropped 2.4% to $78.15.In economic news, US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above the 1.4% increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and following the previous month's revised 0.7% gain. Removing both motor vehicles and a 15.5% surge in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.6% in March, the same as in February.Pending home sales rose by 1.5% in March, above the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 2.5% increase in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly sales index was down 1.1% from March 2025.In company news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its Q1 results. Shares jumped 7.6%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal Q2 results came in better than expected, although the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. Shares advanced 7.1%, among the S&P 500's outperformers.Moody's (MCO) said Tuesday that it is deepening its partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) by embedding its credit intelligence into Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI-driven enterprise tools, expanding its presence across financial workflows. Shares of Microsoft rose 1.4%, among the Dow's leaders.Apple (AAPL) shares fell 1.5%, among the Dow's laggards, a day after the company said that Tim Cook will become executive chairman after a nearly 15-year stint as chief executive officer, effective Sept 1.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$MCO$MSFT$UNH

Asia Markets63d ago

European Stocks Track Lower in Tuesday Trading; Euro Area Economic Sentiment Plunges

The European stock markets were tracking lower in Tuesday trading as The Stoxx Europe was declining 0.4% lower, Germany's DAX was off 0.5%, the FTSE 100 was down 1%, France's CAC declined 1.1%, and the Swiss Market Index was 1% lower.Euro area economic outlook sentiment deteriorated sharply in April, according to the April ZEW Financial Market Survey, falling 11.9 points from March to -20.4. The reading was far lower than analyst expectations of -12.7, according to Bloomberg.Aerospace and defense stocks are tumbling in Tuesday trading as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems dropped 6% and 4.2% respectively in London. Safran and Thales fell 5.9% and 5.6% respectively in Paris. MTU Aero Rheinmetall was off 3.5% in Frankfurt, while Leonardo lost 5% in Milan.In corporate news, Shell faces a fresh lawsuit by a Dutch climate activist organization demanding it immediately end its investments in new oil and gas projects, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing court documents."Shell must stop bringing new oil and gas fields into production. This is necessary to protect us from Shell's climate-disrupting activities," Friends of the Earth Netherlands, or Milieudefensie, said in the filing, Reuters reported.In a statement posted to its website, Shell called the case "unrealistic, unreasonable," and "fundamentally misplaced," adding that "it ignores the role oil and gas will continue to play over the coming decades as renewables become more widely available."Shares of the British oil and gas company were flat in London.Barclays is facing scrutiny from UK regulators over its use of significant risk transfer, or SRT, transactions, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.The review, known as a Section 166 probe, has been requested by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the supervisory arm of the Bank of England, according to the publication. The report says the bank has commissioned an independent review of its practices.Barclays did not immediately respond to' request for comment.Shares of the British bank were off 1.1% in London.BHP is looking to pursue large-scale copper exploration in Zambia, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing the country's mines ministry.The company is targeting major deposits that are harder to detect using traditional methods, focusing on deeply buried or geologically concealed resources, the mines ministry quoted Campbell McCuaig, BHP's head of global generative exploration, as saying, Reuters reported.BHP did not immediately respond to' request for comment.Shares of the mining company were declining 1.4% in London.AstraZeneca said Tuesday a phase 3 trial of Ultomiris in adults with Immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a rare kidney disease, met its primary endpoint.The study showed a statistically significant reduction in proteinuria, based on 24-hour urine protein creatinine ratio at week 34, the company said.AstraZeneca said it plans to submit the data to regulatory authorities while continuing the trial.Shares of the British pharmaceutical company were losing more than 2% in London.Rio Tinto said late Monday its Q1 global iron ore production was 82.8 million metric tonnes, up 12% year over year.Iron ore sales for the quarter rose 2% from a year earlier to 75.7 million metric tonnes.For 2026, the company continues to expect global iron ore sales of 343 million metric tonnes to 366 million metric tonnes.Shares of Rio Tinto were down 1.4% in London.

Asia Markets63d ago

DAX Index Blinks Red as German Economic Sentiment Falls

German equities fell on Tuesday, with the blue-chip DAX index ending the trading session 0.60% in the red, as the market digested the latest economic sentiment survey for the eurozone's biggest economy and updates regarding potential US-Iran truce talks.The ZEW economic sentiment indicator for Germany tumbled to -17.2 points in April from March's -0.5 point, missing the consensus estimate of -6.7 points. The current situation index also fell by -10.8 points to -73.7 points, slightly behind the expected -70 points."Economic expectations are slipping into negative territory. The economic consequences of the Iran war for the German economy go far beyond price increases: Businesses are concerned about long-term shortages of energy supply, and this discourages investment and weakens the effect of government stimuli," ZEW President Achim Wambach said.Speaking of the Middle East conflict, Reuters reported, citing a Pakistani source, that momentum is building for talks to resume on Wednesday between the US and Iran, with US Vice President JD Vance expected in Islamabad. The news outlet noted comments from Tehran stating it was "positively reviewing" participation while continuing to demand the recognition of its right to enrich uranium and an end to the naval blockade of its ports, among other conditions.In corporate news, Beiersdorf (BEI.F) was one of the blue-chip index's top losers, falling 2.97%, after posting lower-than-expected first-quarter sales amid headwinds across its core brand and luxury portfolio. The German personal care products manufacturer's sales for the three months ended March 31 decreased by 4.6% on an organic basis to 2.48 billion euros, compared with FactSet-compiled consensus of 2.56 billion euros.Meanwhile, Berenberg forecasts a "surprisingly good, if volatile, 2026" for BASF (BAS.F), though it cautions that this "overdue good fortune" is already baked into the share price. Consequently, the research firm maintained its hold rating while nudging its price target up to 51 euros from 48 euros."This report is the first time in years where we have substantially raised earnings forecasts for BASF. After a decade of struggling to adapt to oversupply in the chemicals sector, the most substantive pieces of news over the last six months have all been positive. Against the backdrop of domestic German stimulus, shares have responded well to: i) potential political relief on carbon taxation and select anti-dumping investigations; and ii) increases in chemicals prices caused by Iran-conflict-induced feedstock shortages at Asian peers. We are unsure of the longevity of ii, but the self-help measures, including the sale of coatings for EUR8.7bn (13x EV/EBITDA), have left the company quite well-placed to enjoy the upswing," Berenberg said. The German chemicals company gained 1.12% at the end of the trading day.

^DAX$BAS.F$BEI.F

Asia Markets63d ago

UK Shares Fall as Ceasefire Deadline Nears; Associated British Foods Shares Down Amid Primark Plans

London's FTSE 100 closed Tuesday trading 1.05% in the red as the US and Iran's two-week ceasefire nears its expiration on Wednesday evening Eastern time.US President Donald Trump said he does not want to extend the ceasefire deadline and expects "to be bombing" if the two sides fail to reach a deal, according to a phone interview on CNBC's Squawk Box.In economic news back home, Britain's unemployment rate stood at 4.9% in the three months to February, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Analysts expected unemployment to remain stable at 5.2%. Meanwhile, wage growth slowed to 3.8% from a revised 4.1% including bonuses and to 3.6% from 3.8% excluding them, slightly above forecasts of 3.6% and 3.5%, respectively."The Bank of England's (BoE's) preferred measure of pay growth slowed to the pace it believes is consistent with CPI inflation meeting the 2% target," Berenberg said. "Taking the official and survey data in the round, our view is that the jobs market stabilised. However, forward looking indicators flag a risk of further deterioration. In either case, few job vacancies relative to the number of people looking for work should prevent a rise in energy prices from setting off a new price-wage spiral."At Downing Street, long‑term fixed‑price contracts for renewables were proposed alongside increased taxation on excess revenues generated from electricity production to sever the link between international gas prices and electricity rates across the UK. "Our focus is simple: easing pressure on household budgets now, while building a homegrown energy system that protects families from global instability in the years ahead," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.In corporate news, Associated British Foods (ABF.L) dropped 2.68% as it plans to demerge its fast-fashion retail business, Primark, from its FoodCo business and list them as separate entities."ABF reported their H1-26 results today and, as we expected, will demerge Primark (which will be completed by Sep-27). This is a good decision in the long-term but which will not create short-term value on our estimates," Bernstein said. "The business remains weak across the board with profits declining -17% YoY and margins compressing -150 [basis points], driven by weakness in Primark, grocery and sugar. Vs. consensus, revenue was broadly in line (-0.5%) but EBIT missed by -5% (driven by grocery) whilst Primark margins were a little stronger (+20bps beat but this included a non-recurring benefit, which if excluded, leads to a margin miss)."On the upside, data and technology company Experian (EXPN.L) climbed 2.34%, taking a spot among the top performers on the blue-chip index, after appointing Adam Crozier as its chair designate, effective May 12.

FTSE 100$ABF.L$EXPN.L

Asia Markets63d ago

Swiss Stocks Down Amid Looming US-Iran Ceasefire Deadline

The Swiss Market Index remained in negative territory on Tuesday, closing 1.13% lower, reflecting cautious market sentiment amid uncertainty over the outcome of the second round of US-Iran peace talks."Investors continue to take a bullish view of events. Although not confirmed, Iranian negotiators are expected to travel to Pakistan to engage in peace talks with the US later today or early tomorrow. As is his way, President Trump continues to threaten a binary outcome - deal or destruction - after tomorrow's ceasefire expires," ING analysts said. "For the time being, the market seems happy to sit pro-risk on the view that the ceasefire will at least be extended."In local economic news, Switzerland's trade surplus stood at 11.10 billion francs in the first quarter of 2026, down from 11.26 billion francs in the prior three-month period, data from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security showed. Seasonally adjusted exports fell 4.2%, marking the lowest level since the third quarter of 2021, while imports decreased 4.7%.On the watchmaking front, the country's watch exports declined 1% annually to 2.11 billion francs in March, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.Over to corporates, the US Food and Drug Administration accepted Roche's (RO.SW) supplemental biologics license application for its monoclonal antibody Gazyva/Gazyvaro for treating systemic lupus erythematosus. The Swiss pharmaceutical giant expects the regulator to decide on the approval by December. The stock was down 1.21% at closing.Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets reiterated Alcon's (ALC.SW) outperform rating and price target of 80 francs, noting a "positive set up" into the Swiss eye products company's first-quarter results set for release in May. Alcon's shares closed the trading session 1.15% in the red."We expect results-day volatility to continue, driven by: 1) commentary around market growth (implication for 2026 guidance); 2) Equipment growth performance (Unity roll out); and 3) Implantables growth performance (market share dynamics), but at a lower level vs historical given the conservativism of FY2026 guidance," the research firm said in a note. "Although we continue to see potential upside to FY2026 guidance, driven by an accelerating surgical (cataract) market, we expect the company to reiterate guidance at Q1 results."

^SSMI$ALC.SW$RO.SW

Asia Markets63d ago

European Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Sharply Lower in Tuesday Trading

European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were falling sharply late Tuesday morning, dropping 1.15% to 1,812.72 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.From continental Europe, the gainers were led by petroleum refiner Equinor (EQNR) and internet browser company Opera (OPRA), which rose 2.7% and 1.7% respectively. They were followed by 3D printer company Materialise (MTLS) and medical device maker EDAP TMS (EDAP), which were up 1.2% each.The decliners from continental Europe were led by biopharmaceutical company argenx (ARGX) and pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NVO), which fell 3% and 2.8% respectively. They were followed by biotech firm Evaxion (EVAX) and pharmaceutical company Ascendis Pharma (ASND), which were down 2.7% each.The gainers from the UK were led by biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics (AKTX) and software firm Endava (DAVA), which advanced 6.4% and 2.7% respectively. They were followed by education company Pearson (PSO) and pharmaceutical company Silence Therapeutics (SLN), which increased 1.2% and 0.9% respectively.The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical companies Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) and NuCana (NCNA), which dropped 8.7% and 3.2% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Mereo BioPharma Group (MREO) and cruise line operator Carnival (CUK), which lost 2.3% and 2.2% respectively.

$AKTX$ARGX$ASND$BDRX$CUK$DAVA$EDAP$EQNR$EVAX$MREO$MTLS$NCNA$NVO$OPRA$PSO$SLN

Asia Markets63d ago

Asian Equities Traded in US as ADRs Fall in Tuesday Trading

Asian equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts fell Tuesday morning with the S&P Asia 50 ADR Index declining 1.1% to 2,805.12.From North Asia, the gainers were led by education company 51Talk Online Education Group (COE) and lender CNFinance Holdings (CNF), which climbed 12% and 7.3%, respectively. They were followed by mobile app developer Cheetah Mobile (CMCM) and fintech firm J and Friends Holdings (JF), which advanced 6.1% and 4.4%, respectively.The decliners from North Asia were led by fintech firm Maase (MAAS) and fashion platform MOGU (MOGU), which dropped 15% and 5.5%, respectively. They were followed by internet and data center services provider VNET Group (VNET) and video streaming service iQIYI (IQ), which lost 5.2% and 5%, respectively.From South Asia, the gainers were led by lenders HDFC Bank (HDB) and ICICI Bank (IBN), which rose 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively. They were followed by IT firm Sify Technologies (SIFY) and telecommunications operator PLDT (PHI), which were up 1.5% and 0.3%, respectively.The decliners from South Asia were led by telecommunications operator Telekomunikasi Indonesia (TLK) and pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (RDY), which fell 3.2% and 1.5%, respectively. They were followed by IT firm Infosys (INFY) and tech conglomerate Sea (SE), which were off 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively.

$CMCM$CNF$COE$HDB$IBN$INFY$IQ$JF$MAAS$MOGU$PHI$RDY$SE$SIFY$TLK$VNET

Asia Markets63d ago

Saudi Shares End Tuesday in Red Amid Jitters on US-Iran Meeting Uncertainty

The Tadawul All Share Index closed Tuesday 0.19% in the red as market jitters regarding the uncertainty of the US-Iran peace talks happening sent investors into risk-off mode.As the end of the two-week ceasefire looms, Iran and the US are set to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing a Pakistani source. The US will send Vice President JD Vance for the discussions, with the Iranian delegation sending uncertain signals about its participation."Various reporting suggests that Vice President Vance is expected depart to Islamabad today, and we also saw reporting by the New York Times and others that Iran is also sending a team to Islamabad for negotiations. With a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry earlier saying that Tehran had no plans to attend the negotiations, this has given a more positive light on the talks going ahead, though it remains unclear who would lead the Iranian delegation," Deutsche Bank Research said in a note.Back at home, Saudi National Bank (SASE:1180), Riyad Bank (SASE:1010), Al Rajhi Bank (SASE:1120), and Arab National Bank (SASE:1080) posted their financial statements for the first quarter of 2026. All four stocks logged higher net profit and total operations profit for the three months ended March 31."SNB reported SAR6,423mn net income for 1Q26, 1.7% above consensus (Visible Alpha), 2.2% above BofAe, +0.6% QoQ. The bottom line was helped by net release of provisions (-32bpt CoR), which has offset lower than we had expected revenue and higher costs. In the balance sheet, loan growth came in moderate, while deposits accelerated, bringing Loan / Deposit Ratio down," BofA Global Research said.Saudi National Bank and Riyad Bank declined 2.40% and 0.23%, respectively, while Al Rajhi Bank closed 0.42% higher and Arab National Bank ended the session 1.58% in green.Meanwhile, Arabian Internet and Communications Services Co. (SASE:7202), d/b/a Solutions', shares rose 0.68% as it secured a project to design, upgrade, and provide equipment for Saudi Telecom (SASE:7010), d/b/a stc, data centers. Stc shares closed 0.05% higher.

^TASISASE:1010SASE:1080SASE:1120SASE:1180SASE:7010SASE:7202

Asia Markets63d ago

AI Optimism Lifts US Equity Futures Pre-Bell Amid Uncertainty of US-Iran Peace Talks

US equity futures were higher pre-bell on Tuesday as recent optimism on artificial intelligence and tech buoyed investor sentiment amid the uncertainty of a new round of negotiations between the US and Iran.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.5% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% higher.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) boosted its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 7,600, pointing to AI and tech-driven earnings, while Amazon (AMZN) said it planned to invest $5 billion in Claude AI chatbot creator Anthropic, with up to another $20 billion potentially available in the future if certain commercial milestones are met.President Donald Trump seems positive on the new round of peace talks happening, while Iran has said it will not negotiate "under the shadow of threat." The ceasefire between the two nations ends tomorrow.Traders took note of the latest round of earnings, with GE Aerospace (GE) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reporting higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were slightly lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.2% at $95.20 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.7% lower at $88.95 per barrel.March retail sales rose 1.7% following an upwardly adjusted 0.7% gain in the prior month, above estimates compiled by Bloomberg of a 1.4% increase.The Senate Banking Committee hearing of Kevin Warsh for the Federal Reserve chair is scheduled at 10 am ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.9% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.5% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.1% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.4% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Amazon stock was higher by 2.2% pre-bell. UnitedHealth shares rose 7.4% after the company's Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue surpassed analysts' consensus. Danaher (DHR) stock was up by 0.5% after posting Q1 adjusted earnings that beat analysts' estimates.On the losing side, Apple (AAPL) shares eased slightly by 0.7% after the company said Tim Cook plans to step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO. 3M (MMM) stock was down by 3.7% despite the company's Q1 adjusted earnings and net sales surpassing analysts' consensus.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$DHR$GE$JPM$MMM$UNH

Asia Markets63d ago

Emirati Equities Gain on US-Iran Peace Talks Optimism

Stock trading in the United Arab Emirates ended in the green on Tuesday, buoyed by positive sentiment regarding the resumption of peace talks between the US and Iran.At the close of trading, the FTSE ADX General Index was up 0.197%, while the DFM General Index added 0.276%.Oil prices dropped 0.36% to $95.129 per barrel on Tuesday at 3:43 pm UAE time amid reports from multiple media outlets that the US and Iran will resume their peace talks on Wednesday."Negotiations between the US and Iran are set to resume in Pakistan, with US Vice President JD Vance set to attend. It appears Iran will send a delegation too. This follows earlier suggestions that Iran wouldn't attend as long as the US blockade continues. These talks are important, with the current ceasefire set to end on Wednesday," ING said. "President Trump has suggested he is unlikely to extend the ceasefire. Therefore, a lack of progress would likely push oil and gas prices higher. This would create significant uncertainty over when energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz might return to normal."Back home, the Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, plans to integrate artificial intelligence across its legal and regulatory frameworks, operations, and talent development systems, becoming the first AI-native financial center globally.Over to corporates, shareholders of Dana Gas (ADX:DANA) approved the distribution of a cash dividend of 0.065 Emirati dirham per share for 2025. Shares of the natural gas company closed the session 2.66% higher.Deyaar Development (DFM:DEYAAR) stocks ended 0.80% in the red at closing. The real estate group handed over three residential and hospitality projects comprising a total of 1,436 units in Dubai.

^DFMGI^FADGIADX:DANADFM:DEYAAR

Asia Markets64d ago

US Equity Indexes Mixed Amid Reports Iran Peace Talks to Enter Second Round

US equity indexes closed mixed on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average clawing back almost all of its intraday declines, amid speculation that a second round of Iran negotiations will go ahead in Pakistan.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,404.39, with the S&P 500 down 0.2% to 7,109.14, after breaking records late last week when President Donald Trump talked up the likelihood of an Iran peace deal before the end of the current, two-week ceasefire on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,442.56.Technology also turned the corner after trading lower earlier in the session. Communication services and healthcare led the decliners, while the materials sector was among the gainers.The US and Iran plan to hold peace talks in Islamabad this week, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. While Iran hasn't publicly confirmed that it would send representatives to the meetings in Pakistan, it has told regional mediators that it would send a team to negotiate, people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.Pakistan is confident it can get Iran to attend talks with the US, Reuters reported Monday, citing a senior Pakistani government official. "We have received a positive signal from Iran," the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Things are fluid, but we are trying [to make sure] that they should be here when we start the talks tomorrow or a day after."Iran is considering attending the peace talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, following moves by Islamabad to engineer an end to the US blockade of Iran's ports, a major hurdle for Tehran in rejoining peace efforts.Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart Tuesday for Islamabad, Pakistan, CNN reported Monday. President Trump said he's not likely to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran, increasing the urgency for negotiators to conclude a deal to end the war, Bloomberg reported Monday.Meanwhile, US home sellers outnumbered buyers by a near-record percentage in March, according to a Redfin survey. Home sellers exceeded buyers by an estimated 43% last month, compared with the largest gap on record of just above 45% in December. The March tally increased from 28% a year earlier.In US company news, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) dropped 3.5%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500, amid the geopolitical developments in the Middle East.Meta Platforms (META) plans to initiate its planned layoffs for this year on May 20, and more cuts are expected later, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Facebook-owner's shares dropped 2.6%, among the worst performers on the Nasdaq.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google is negotiating with Marvell Technology (MRVL) to develop two new processors optimized for artificial intelligence inference tasks, The Information reported, citing two people with knowledge of the discussions. Shares of Marvell jumped 5.8%, the top gainer on the Nasdaq.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$GOOG$GOOGL$META$NCLH

Asia Markets64d ago

Exchange-Traded Funds Mixed as US Equities Fall After Midday

Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV were mixed, with the latter down 0.3%. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) shed 0.5%.US equity indexes slipped, while crude oil futures rose amid high-stakes Middle East diplomacy to bring Iran back to the negotiating table in Pakistan for a second round of peace talks.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each gained about 0.8%.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was down 0.3%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) fell 0.3%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) declined 0.5%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) added 1.1%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was down 0.2%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) gained 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) climbed up 0.3%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), declined 0.5%.CommoditiesCrude oil gained 6%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) rose 5.2%. Natural gas rose 1.4%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) added 0.6%.Gold on Comex slipped 1.3%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) fell 1.2%. Silver declined 2.4%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was down 2%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) was 0.1% lower. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) was fractionally lower, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was down 0.3%.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was down 0.9%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) fell 0.4%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) added 0.2%.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.5%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) shed 0.5%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 0.4% lower. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) declined 0.4%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) was flat. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 0.1%, and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) was down 0.1%CryptocurrencyBitcoin (BTC-USD) gained 0.7%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) shed 2.7%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) dropped 5.2%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was down 3.1%.

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 Markets64d ago

US Equity Indexes Decline as Fate of Iran Peace Talks Hangs in Balance

US equity indexes fell, while crude oil futures jumped amid high-stakes diplomacy aimed at bringing Iran back for a second round of talks in Pakistan.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.5% to 24,344.1, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 7,101.5, after breaking records late last week when President Donald Trump talked up the likelihood of an Iran peace deal before the end of the current, two-week ceasefire on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1% to 49,378.5.Consumer discretionary, communication services, and technology led decliners intraday. Energy and materials were among the biggest gainers.Risk appetite is "on the run" to start the fresh trading week, Derek Holt, head of capital markets economics at Scotiabank, said in a note on Monday. Trump, on Friday, appears to have "grossly overstated" progress toward an agreement with Iran, Holt added.Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends "Wednesday evening Washington time," adding it's "highly unlikely" he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then, CNN reported Monday.Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart Tuesday for Islamabad, Pakistan, ahead of a potential second round of talks with Iran, CNN reported. Iran is considering attending peace talks, a senior official from the Middle East nation told Reuters on Monday, following moves by Islamabad to end a US blockade of Tehran's ports, a major hurdle for the country under threat of widespread attack to rejoin peace efforts.The US president said in a Monday phone interview that the second round of talks with Iran is set to begin Tuesday, Bloomberg reported.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures jumped 5% to $88.80, and Brent crude futures advanced 4.8% to $95.21.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 1.8 basis points to 4.26% and the two-year climbed 2.5 basis points to 3.73% as rising crude oil prices fueled inflation worries. Reflecting the potential upside risk to price pressures, gold futures declined 1.2% to $4,822.1 and silver futures dropped 2.5% to $79.78.In company news, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) dropped 4.2% intraday, among the worst performers on the S&P 500, amid worsening geopolitical risk in the Middle East.Meta Platforms (META) plans to initiate its planned layoffs for this year on May 20, and more cuts are expected later, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Facebook-owner's shares dropped 2.3% intraday, among the worst performers on the Nasdaq.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google is negotiating with Marvell Technology (MRVL) to develop two new processors optimized for artificial intelligence inference tasks, The Information reported, citing two people with knowledge of the discussions. Shares of Marvell jumped 4% intraday, the top gainer on the Nasdaq.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MRVL$NCLH

Asia Markets64d ago

European Stocks Fall Sharply in Monday Trading as Hopes of Middle East Ceasefire Dim

European markets were tracking lower Monday as investors are discouraged by reports that Tehran will not participate in pending peace-talks with Washington, and that President Donald Trump said an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran is "highly unlikely" and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until an agreement is finalized.The Stoxx Europe was falling 1%, Germany's DAX was dropping 1.2%, the FTSE 100 was down 0.7%, France's CAC was declining 1.2%, and the Swiss Market Index was moving 1.5% lower.Rising oil prices lifted energy stocks in Monday trading as BP and Shell gained 3% and 2.4% respectively in London. RWE increased 2.3% in Frankfurt, TotalEnergies was rising close to 2% in Paris, while Eni and Equinor were up 2.8% and 2.3% respectively in Milan and Oslo.And in corporate news, Novo Nordisk reported Monday "positive" topline results from its Phase 3 HIBISCUS trial, with etavopivat meeting both primary endpoints in sickle cell disease, significantly reducing vaso-occlusive crises and improving haemoglobin levels versus placebo.Novo Nordisk said it plans to seek initial regulatory approval for the drug in the second half of 2026, positioning it as a potential first-in-class treatment for a disease affecting millions worldwide.Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company were down 1% in Copenhagen.BHP and Mitsubishi Development have started a review of their coal and other mining assets in Queensland over concerns about the Australian state's royalty demands, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.The two companies are equal partners in the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture, which returned no profit to BHP in the six months ending Dec. 31, the report said.BHP did not immediately reply to' request for comment.Shares of BHP lost 1.6% in London.Sanofi said Saturday its Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine met the primary endpoint of a phase 4 trial by demonstrating a statistically lower probability of side effects compared with Moderna's newest mRNA vaccine.Severe systemic symptoms disrupting daily activities occurred in less than 10% of Nuvaxovid patients compared to one in five for the Moderna shot, while severe injection site reactions were over 75% less frequent, Sanofi said.Shares of the French pharmaceutical company were off 0.4% in Paris.AstraZeneca said Monday its pivotal phase 3 study of tozorakimab demonstrated a "significant" reduction in the annual rate of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, exacerbations in trial participants.The population comprised former smokers, current smokers and participants throughout all blood eosinophil counts and all stages of lung function severity, according to the company.Shares of the British pharmaceutical company were losing 0.8% in London.GSK said Monday China's National Medical Products Administration has approved Blenrep in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone to treat certain relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients.The approval covers adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy.Shares of GSK were off 0.1% in London.

Asia Markets64d ago

German Shares Down as US-Iran Tensions Reignite

Germany's blue-chip DAX index reversed last week's winning streak, closing 1.04% in the red on Monday, amid renewed friction between the US and Iran.A US naval interception of an Iranian cargo ship on Monday triggered a vow of retaliation from Tehran, which also reinstated restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend amid the US' continued blockade of Iranian ports. As Tuesday's ceasefire expiration looms, Iran threatened to boycott the anticipated second round of negotiations, demanding an immediate end to the closure of its ports as a prerequisite for talks."Oil prices rebounded, with Brent crude trading at USD 95 [per barrel] this morning, as the market digested the turmoil around the Strait of Hormuz. The market is likely to stay volatile this week as US and Iran will try and negotiate a deal. If oil does not start flowing through the strait soon, oil prices are likely to rise further and above USD 100/bbl again," Danske Bank said.In local economic news, Destatis reported that producer prices ticked down 0.2% year over year in March, compared with a 3.3% decline earlier. The German Federal Statistical Office attributed the year-on-year decline to energy price adjustments. On a monthly basis, the index was up 2.5% in March 2026, marking the biggest month-over-month rise in producer prices since August 2022.On the corporate side, Commerzbank (CBK.F) shares moved 1.33% higher, as significant shareholder UniCredit unveiled a value-creation plan for the German bank. Seeking to boost 2028 net profit to 5.1 billion euros, versus Commerzbank's 4.5 billion-euro goal, UniCredit urged a faster transformation, claiming the current management is "insufficiently prepared" for future challenges and too focused on short-term delivery.Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank Research trimmed buy-rated SAP's (SAP.F) price target to 200 euros from 220 euros, as part of a report focused on the European software and information technology services sector. The German software company was the DAX's second-biggest loser during the session, shedding 3.28%."The European and global Software sector has seen some recovery of share prices over the last days which we see as a result of very negative positioning going into earnings season. While this is somewhat of a relief following the derating of the last months, we retain our selective approach and overall more cautious stance on the space. We expect new releases of OpenAI, Google and other models during Q2, which represent further headline risks to the sector, while established Software companies need to transform themselves (further) in order to deliver maximum value from AI solutions to their customers in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Lastly, geopolitical and macro headwinds from the war in Iran are likely to impact also Enterprise customer confidence as we have seen when Russia attacked Ukraine or during the 2025 'trade war,'" the research firm said.

^DAX$CBK.F$SAP.F

Asia Markets64d ago

UK Shares Fall Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions; Tesco Shines

British equities began the new week lower, with the FTSE 100 closing 0.59% in the red on Monday, as escalating tensions between the US and Iran depressed global markets and dampened the prospects of further peace talks."The Middle East conflict escalated early this morning as the US intercepted an Iranian cargo ship trying to breach its maritime blockade, prompting Iran to vow retaliation. The prospects for a second round of negotiations remain uncertain ahead of the ceasefire's expiration on Tuesday, with Iran refusing to participate unless the blockade is lifted," Danske Bank said.In the UK, consumer confidence weakened further in April as households' inflation worries grew due to the ongoing war in the Middle East and rising expectations about monetary policy tightening from the Bank of England. The S&P Global UK Consumer Sentiment Index fell to a 33-month low of 42.3 in April from 44.1 in March, according to a survey by S&P Global.Next, investors will assess labor data on Tuesday, inflation on Wednesday, S&P Global PMIs on Thursday, and retail sales on Friday. "Headline inflation should rise from 3.0% in February to 3.3% in March due to higher energy prices. In turn, core inflation is likely to move up from 3.2% to 3.3% with services inflation rising from 4.3% to 4.4% and core goods flat at 1.3%. We expect the unemployment rate to be flat at 5.2% in the three months to February with an 80K increase in 3m/3m employment," BofA Global Research said.In corporate news, Tesco (TSCO.L) gained 1.62% to the FTSE 100's top risers list as Deutsche Bank Research raised the retail giant's price target to 5.25 pounds sterling from 5 pounds, with a buy rating."Tesco delivered another profit beat in FY26 but set out a cautious outlook for FY27, underlining an intention to defend value amid macro uncertainty. We view this as conservative (DBe at the upper end of the profit range). While there are risks to the UK consumer and inflation, Tesco is well placed to navigate this supported by its defensive profile, strong competitive position, incremental profit streams to drive price re-investment, and a track record of over-delivering," analysts said.On the contrary, Deutsche Bank reduced the price target for Barratt Redrow (BTRW.L) to 3.66 pounds from 4.54 pounds, with a buy rating. The residential property developer was down 4.37% to become one of the worst performers on the blue-chip index."Barratt's Q3 update showed a resilient sales rate, marginally up y/y - supported by competitive pricing and incentives, and so far unaffected by the Middle East war and higher mortgage rates. Whilst demand could yet be impacted, a greater certainty is that cost inflation will rise, and we are already seeing evidence of this. To reflect this and the possibility that a weaker year-end order book will inhibit volume growth in FY27, we reduce our [pretax profit] forecasts by 3/18/18% for FY26/27/28 - albeit acknowledge there is a wide range of potential outcomes," analysts said.

FTSE 100$BTRW.L$TSCO.L

Asia Markets64d ago

Swiss Market Index in Red as Hopes for Middle East War Resolution Fade

Swiss stocks began the trading week on a somber note, with the Swiss Market Index down 1.45% on Monday's close, as hopes for a resolution to the war in the Middle East faded amid renewed geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran."The Middle East conflict escalated early this morning as the US intercepted an Iranian cargo ship trying to breach its maritime blockade, prompting Iran to vow retaliation. The prospects for a second round of negotiations remain uncertain ahead of the ceasefire's expiration on Tuesday, with Iran refusing to participate unless the blockade is lifted," Danske Bank said. "The market is likely to stay volatile this week as US and Iran will try and negotiate a deal. If oil does not start flowing through the strait soon, oil prices are likely to rise further and above USD 100/bbl again."Meanwhile, the only agenda on the Swiss economic calendar for the week is the balance of trade data for March. Elsewhere, the April ZEW economic sentiment index for Germany and the euro area, and the UK's March inflation figures are on top of the agenda.On the corporate front, Eli Lilly (LLY.SW) signed a definitive agreement to acquire biotechnology company Kelonia Therapeutics for up to $7 billion in cash, including an upfront payment of $3.25 billion and subsequent milestone-based payments. The transaction, which is set to complete in the second half, is expected to bolster Lilly's genetic medicine capabilities."Autologous CAR-T therapies have meaningfully improved outcomes for patients with various cancers, but significant manufacturing, safety, and access barriers mean that only a fraction of eligible patients actually receive them. Kelonia's in vivo platform has the potential to change that by delivering rapid, durable responses in a far simpler, off-the-shelf format," said Jacob Van Naarden, executive vice president and president of Lilly Oncology and corporate business development head. "The early clinical data for KLN-1010 are highly encouraging, both as a potential step forward for patients with multiple myeloma and as proof of concept for Kelonia's platform."

^SSMI$LLY.SW

Asia Markets64d ago

European Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Decline in Monday Trading

European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts started the week tracking lower late Monday morning, as the S&P Europe Select ADR Index was falling 0.54% to 1,830.11.From continental Europe, the gainers were led by semiconductor company Sequans Communications (SQNS) and telecommunications company Ericsson (ERIC), which rose 5.3% and 3.9% respectively. They were followed by telecommunications company Nokia (NOK) and internet browser company Opera (OPRA), which increased 2.7% and 2.2% respectively.The decliners from continental Europe were led by biopharmaceutical company Cellectis (CLLS) and lender Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), which dropped 7.7% and 3.9% respectively. They were followed by lender Banco Santander (SAN) and biopharmaceutical company Grifols (GRFS), which were down 2.5% and 2.4% respectively.The gainers from the UK were led by biopharmaceutical company Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) and oil and gas company BP (BP), which advanced 15% and 1.4% respectively. They were followed by telecommunications operator Vodafone Group (VOD) and tobacco company British American Tobacco (BTI), which were up 1.1% and 0.5% respectively.The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics (AKTX) and communications company WPP (WPP), which lost 7.5% and 2% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company NuCana (NCNA) and cruise line operator Carnival (CUK), which fell 1.9% and 1.3% respectively.

$AKTX$BBVA$BDRX$BP$BTI$CLLS$CUK$ERIC$GRFS$NCNA$NOK$OPRA$SAN$SQNS$VOD$WPP

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