U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Wall Street’s three major indexes closed at record highs on Thursday, driven largely by strength in the technology sector, even as investors weighed weak labor market signals during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 78.62 points, or 0.17%, closing at 46,519.72. The S&P 500 edged up 4.15 points, or 0.06%, to 6,715.35, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 88.89 points, or 0.39%, to 22,844.05. The Nasdaq was the day’s top gainer, supported by heavyweight technology stocks including Nvidia, Apple, and Broadcom. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 notched consecutive record closes, while the Nasdaq narrowly missed one after hitting an intraday high.
Investor focus turned to private labor market reports, as official government data remained unavailable due to the shutdown. Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported fewer layoffs in September, but noted that 2024 hiring plans are the weakest since 2009. This followed a softer-than-expected ADP employment report a day earlier, intensifying speculation about the Federal Reserve’s next moves. Markets are now widely pricing in two additional rate cuts this year, including one expected in late October.
Sector performance highlighted the tech industry’s 0.5% gain, with semiconductor stocks jumping 1.9% to reach a record closing high. Materials advanced 1%, while energy lagged, dropping 1%. Consumer discretionary was the biggest drag, as Tesla shares tumbled 5%, their steepest fall since July, despite strong quarterly deliveries. Analysts cited risks from the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
Other notable moves included sharp declines in Equifax (–8.5%) and TransUnion (–10.6%) after FICO launched a new credit score program that bypasses the bureaus, boosting its own shares nearly 18%. Occidental Petroleum fell 7.3% after announcing a $9.7 billion sale of its petrochemical unit to Berkshire Hathaway.
Despite shutdown worries, market breadth was positive, with advancing stocks outpacing decliners on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading volume remained in line with the 20-day average, signaling steady investor confidence even in a cautious environment.
