Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
European stock markets showed little movement on Tuesday following a long holiday weekend, as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The pan-European Stoxx 600 edged up 0.1%, Germany's DAX was nearly flat, France's CAC 40 gained 0.5%, and the UK's FTSE 100 added 0.2%. Most major European exchanges had been closed Monday for a public holiday.
Market sentiment stayed guarded as U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to agree to a ceasefire drew closer. At a news conference, Trump dismissed growing hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, warning that the U.S. would destroy critical Iranian infrastructure — including bridges and power plants — if Tehran failed to meet his Tuesday night deadline. He added that such strikes would set Iran back by a century. Iran had already turned down a U.S. and regionally brokered proposal that would have halted fighting for 45 days and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.
The conflict, which began with joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February, has since drawn in multiple countries across the Middle East. Israel has continued striking Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, while Iran has retaliated with attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and effectively choked off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows.
The ongoing disruption has pushed crude oil prices sharply higher. Brent crude climbed 1.4% to $111.28 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 2.1% to $114.74. Elevated energy prices are stoking inflation fears and raising concerns about slowing global economic growth, particularly for Asian nations reliant on Gulf energy imports and European countries dependent on Persian Gulf natural gas for heating and power.
Analysts at ING noted that investor attention remains fixed on whether a ceasefire deal can be reached before energy markets face another significant price surge.
