Market Highlights
Market highlights
2026-04-02
US stocks rallied for a second day as hopes grew that the war in the Middle East may be
nearing a conclusion, while Brent briefly fell below $100 a barrel. Treasuries wavered and the
dollar marked a second day of declines.
The S&P 500 closed up 0.7%, adding to gains from the previous session as investors assessed
comments by President Donald Trump on the war’s trajectory. Trump said on Wednesday that
Iran has asked for a ceasefire, adding that the US would only consider it if the Strait of Hormuz
were reopened. Iran’s foreign ministry said the claim of a ceasefire request was “false and
baseless,” according to state TV
Oil jumped, while stocks and bonds fell after President Donald Trump warned the US would hit
Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks, undermining expectations for an
imminent resolution to the five-week-old Middle East conflict.
2026-04-02
US stocks rallied for a second day as hopes grew that the war in the Middle East may be
nearing a conclusion, while Brent briefly fell below $100 a barrel. Treasuries wavered and the
dollar marked a second day of declines.
The S&P 500 closed up 0.7%, adding to gains from the previous session as investors assessed
comments by President Donald Trump on the war’s trajectory. Trump said on Wednesday that
Iran has asked for a ceasefire, adding that the US would only consider it if the Strait of Hormuz
were reopened. Iran’s foreign ministry said the claim of a ceasefire request was “false and
baseless,” according to state TV
Oil jumped, while stocks and bonds fell after President Donald Trump warned the US would hit
Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks, undermining expectations for an
imminent resolution to the five-week-old Middle East conflict.
2026-04-01
Wall Street staged a dramatic comeback at the end of March, with stocks climbing as oil fell
on hopes that the war that has jolted global markets and disrupted energy supplies may be
nearing a conclusion.
Equities saw their biggest rally since May on speculation that both the US and Iran might be
looking for a way out of the conflict. The S&P 500 gained 2.9% and the Nasdaq Composite
added 3.8%. Airlines jumped while energy producers slipped. US crude closed near $101. Its
retreat from multiyear highs extended an advance in Treasuries. The dollar dropped and gold
rose.
Asian stocks jumped the most in a year and bonds extended gains on optimism the Middle
East conflict that jolted global markets and disrupted energy supplies may be nearing a
conclusion.
2026-03-31
Treasuries bounced after a slide fueled by concerns over the economic fallout of the war in
Iran, with traders resuming bets on a rate cut in 2026 as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
eased fears about any imminent impacts of higher energy prices on inflation.
The bond market trimmed what’s expected to be its worst monthly selloff since 2024 as Powell
said longer-term inflation expectations appear to be in check, with traders erasing wagers on
a rate hike. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% as a rout in chipmakers offset gains in most major groups. US
oil topped $100.
Equity-index futures rose and oil erased gains after the Wall Street Journal reported that
President Donald Trump told aides he’s willing to end the US military campaign against Iran
even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed
2026-03-30
Wall Street traders drove stocks to their longest weekly slide since 2022 on concern that a
protracted war in Iran will keep oil prices elevated, fueling an increase in inflation and a
slowdown in growth.
Equity losses accelerated into the close, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.7%. The Nasdaq 100 fell
into a correction, sliding over 10% from its peak. Brent topped $112. Short-dated Treasuries
outperformed longer maturities. The yen weakened to 160 for the firsttime since 2024, raising
intervention risks.
Stocks extended a selloff and oil rose as Iran-backed Houthi forces entered the Middle-East
conflict and an expanded US military presence raised concerns about a prolonged
confrontation. Government bonds advanced.
2026-03-26
Stocks and bonds rose while oil fell as traders weighing the viability of US-Iran ceasefire talks
sent markets to a series of swings.
The S&P 500 advanced for a second time this week as US efforts to end the war gathered
pace, eclipsing news that Iran rejected a truce proposal and maintained its military strikes.
Brent settled around $102 a barrel. Treasuries pared their March losses. Gold climbed
Stocks and bonds both edged lower and oil climbed as persistent Middle-East tensions and
conflicting signals from the US and Iran about their ceasefire talks sapped risk sentiment.
Asian shares fell 1%, snapping a two-day gain, as elevated energy costs threatened to stoke
inflation and crimp economic growth. Technology shares also sold off after a breakthrough
touted by Google researchers.
2026-03-25
Wall Street traders grappling with a range of possible outcomes for the war in Iran drove
stocks away from session lows amid hopes for talks to end a conflict that kept dragging on. Oil
rose. Bonds fell.
The S&P 500 pared a drop that earlier approached 1%. President Donald Trump signaled that
Iran had offered a “present” as a show of good faith in negotiations, noting it was related to
Strait of Hormuz flows.The US and regional mediators are discussing the possibility of holding
high-level peace talks as soon as Thursday, but await a response from Tehran, Axios reported.
Equities rallied and oil dropped as US diplomatic efforts fueled cautious optimism that the
Middle East conflict may begin to ease, tempering concerns over prolonged disruption.
2026-03-24
A possible de-escalation in the Middle East conflict rippled through markets, with oil falling
and stocks rising as President Donald Trump said he’d postpone strikes on Iranian energy
infrastructure after what he described as productive talks toward ending hostilities.
Brent dropped over 14% before trimming losses as Iran denied the discussions, but it closed
below $100. The S&P 500 added about 1%. Bond yields and the dollar retreated, with traders
backing off some of their more hawkish Federal Reserve bets, pricing in a few basis points of
easing this year.
Stock futures erased earlier losses and posted a modest gain as sentiment appeared to
stabilize heading into the European session amid concerns about the war in the Middle East.
Futures for the S&P 500 Index rose 0.1% and European stocks were primed to gain 0.2%.
2026-03-23
Turmoil in the Middle East sparked fresh losses in stocks and bonds, with fears about an
escalation of the war in Iran boosting oil prices as anxiety builds around the potential
economic fallout of the conflict.
The drop in equities deepened, with the S&P 500 falling 1.5% as CBS reported the Pentagon is
preparing to deploy ground forces into Iran. President Donald Trump rejected the idea of
declaring a cessation of hostilities. Speculation grew the US is weighing a plan to seize Kharg
Island, but Trump was evasive about his plans for the major oil-export hub. Brent topped $112.
A selloff in stocks, gold and bonds deepened as the US and Iran hardened their rhetoric and
signaled a potential escalation to their conflict, which is entering its fourth week.
2026-03-19
Wall Street remained on edge as an oil surge drove stocks and bonds lower, while Federal
Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said uncertainty about the war’s impact on inflation made future
rate policy harder to forecast.
While the central bank kept its projections for a rate reduction in 2026 and another one in
2027, traders trimmed their bets on a cut this year. Treasury yields climbed as Powell said it’s
important to keep rates mildly restrictive while noting the Fed is in a tough position. The S&P
500 dropped 1.4% in its worst Fed day since 2024. Brent hovered near $110 in late hours
Stocks in Europe and Asia slumped after a fresh surge in oil and gas prices intensified
concerns that the war in the Middle East will stoke inflation and hit growth. Bonds tumbled
amid a second day of major central bank meetings.
2026-03-18
Wall Street staged a cautious advance, with stocks rising as traders tried to look through the
potential implications of higher oil prices to inflation as the war in Iran showed no signs of
abating.
While most shares in the S&P 500 climbed, the index saw a modest gain. US crude eased from
session highs, but settled above $96. Airlines jumped after some executives cited strong
bookings as travelers rush to lock in fares ahead of a potential increase in fuel costs. Bond
yields fell alongside the dollar on the eve of the Federal Reserve decision.
Equities rallied for a third day as renewed optimism around artificial intelligence underpinned
risk appetite before Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting. Oil and the dollar fell.
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