Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
Canadian stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index edging up 0.01% to reach a new all-time high. Gains in the REITs, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors helped propel the market forward.
H&R Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:HR_u) was the top performer, surging 17.22% to close at C$12.46—its highest level in a year. Allied Properties REIT (TSX:AP_u) climbed 3.81% to C$17.97, while Boardwalk REIT (TSX:BEI_u) rose 2.72% to end at C$70.95.
On the downside, Ngex Minerals Ltd (TSX:NGEX) dropped 4.36% to C$15.35. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN) slipped 1.51% to C$10.42, and TransAlta Corp (TSX:TA) declined 1.49% to C$14.50.
Market breadth was positive, with 511 stocks advancing, 320 declining, and 101 remaining unchanged on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, a key volatility gauge, jumped 10.94% to 9.53, signaling a slight uptick in market uncertainty.
In commodities, gold futures for August delivery inched up 0.11% to US$3,346.50 per troy ounce. Crude oil for August fell 0.76% to US$66.49 per barrel, while Brent oil for September dipped 0.42% to US$68.51.
Currency markets were stable, with CAD/USD unchanged at 0.74 and CAD/EUR holding at 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.18% to 96.65, reflecting mild weakness in the greenback.
Investor sentiment remained optimistic despite minor pullbacks in energy and mining stocks, as REITs continued to demonstrate resilience amid broader economic uncertainty.
