U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
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 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
The S&P 500 closed lower Thursday as investor optimism over the Federal Reserve’s outlook for two rate cuts in 2025 faded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 11 points (0.03%), while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite each fell 0.3%. Despite a strong rally Wednesday, uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs and economic slowdown fears kept all three indexes near six-month lows.
Labor market data showed resilience as initial jobless claims inched up to 223,000 from a revised 221,000, slightly below economists' forecast of 224,000. The Fed held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% for a second straight meeting, reaffirming its plan for two cuts by year-end. However, it raised its 2025 inflation forecast to 2.8%, exceeding the 2% target, while trimming its GDP outlook. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that Trump’s trade policies could impact inflation and growth.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) saw a 0.5% decline amid reports that CEO Tim Cook is revamping its AI strategy, tapping Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell to lead Siri improvements. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) ended flat after recalling nearly all Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a defect that could cause exterior panels to detach. Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP) dropped 6.5% following plans to sell $1.35 billion in convertible stock to reduce debt.
Earnings reports are in focus, with FedEx (NYSE:FDX), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), and Nike (NYSE:NKE) set to release results. Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) rose 0.6% on strong Q4 earnings, while Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) surged over 5% after posting better-than-expected fiscal Q3 results.
