U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
U.S. stock futures edged lower Sunday evening after Wall Street recorded weekly losses, as investor sentiment remained cautious amid trade tensions and a critical earnings week. S&P 500 Futures fell 0.4% to 5,293.25, Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.4% to 18,316.25, and Dow Jones Futures slipped 0.4% to 36,169.0 by 8:08 PM ET.
Market volatility was driven by uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s new tariff measures and escalating trade talks. Recent discussions between the U.S. and Japan showed signs of progress, while China signaled openness to negotiations—contingent on more respectful diplomacy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also backed continued trade dialogue.
Investors are closely watching first-quarter earnings reports from Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Boeing (NYSE:BA) this week. Tesla will announce results Tuesday as it grapples with global supply chain disruptions and political backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in Trump’s administration. Alphabet reports Thursday amid increased AI activity and advertising scrutiny, while Boeing’s Wednesday results may shed light on how global trade pressures are impacting the aerospace sector.
Last week, UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) triggered a major sell-off, plunging 22% after revising its annual profit forecast due to rising medical costs. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) also spooked tech investors with news of a $5.5 billion Q1 charge linked to U.S. chip export restrictions on China.
Despite the S&P 500 eking out a 0.1% gain Thursday, the Dow dropped 1.3%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.1%. All three major indexes ended the week in the red, with over 2% declines in both the Dow and Nasdaq. Monday’s trading is expected to remain light due to Easter market closures in several regions.
