Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Wall Street closed sharply lower on Thursday as conflicting signals over a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement rattled investor confidence. President Donald Trump's ambiguous remarks about whether Washington was willing or able to negotiate with Tehran triggered a broad market sell-off, sending major indexes deep into the red.
The Nasdaq Composite officially entered correction territory, tumbling 2.4% to close at 21,408 points — now more than 10% below its recent record high. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7% to 6,478 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1% to finish near 45,959 points.
Trump's public statements were sharply at odds with behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity. While he described Iranian negotiators as "strange" and warned of devastating consequences if talks failed, reports emerged that Tehran had privately signaled openness to discussions. Trump later announced a 10-day extension on the suspension of U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, saying negotiations were progressing well despite media reports to the contrary.
Oil markets moved in the opposite direction, with Brent crude surging over 5% to around $107 per barrel and WTI gaining 4.5% to approximately $94. Fears of a sustained energy shock have raised concerns about renewed inflation and potential interest rate hikes globally. The OECD warned that prolonged conflict could significantly hamper economic growth.
Trump also revealed that Iran allowed ten oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture during negotiations, signaling cautious diplomatic progress despite the heated rhetoric.
On the equities front, memory chip stocks including Micron, Western Digital, and Seagate fell between 6% and 11% following news of a Google compression algorithm that could reduce AI-related memory demand. Meta Platforms dropped roughly 8% after being found liable for social media addiction harm to minors. Salesforce bucked the trend, rising 2% on a new government contract win.
