Key Takeaways: U.S. stock futures remain subdued as a shaky U.S.-Iran ceasefire and ongoing strikes in Lebanon test investor optimism. Oil supply chains face severe bottlenecks, with Strait of Hormuz traffic plummeting below 10% of normal capacity amid regional tensions. March CPI data is expected to show a sharp headline …

Key Takeaways: Bitcoin accelerates past $72,000, eyeing a robust 7.3% weekly gain amid renewed risk appetite and quiet optimism surrounding U.S. crypto regulation. Geopolitical tensions dictate market narratives, with U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan hitting roadblocks over conditions involving Lebanon and shipping lanes. Inflation fears loom large, as an expected …

Gold prices edged lower in Asian trading on Friday but remained on track for a weekly rise, as a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire provided underlying support, although investors remained cautious ahead of key talks this weekend. Spot gold edged down 0.2% to $4,752.29 an ounce by 02:31 ET (06:31 GMT), hovering …

European stock markets opened higher on Friday, following gains in U.S. equities after Benjamin Netanyahu signaled a willingness to engage in talks with Lebanon. The pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.2%, Germany’s DAX gained 0.4%, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.1%, while France’s CAC 40 was largely unchanged. Investor sentiment was …

Oil prices rose modestly in Asian trading on Friday, extending gains from the previous session as investors weighed persistent supply risks in the Middle East ahead of expected U.S.-Iran talks. Brent crude futures for June climbed 0.9% to $96.74 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.7% to …

Iran has denied reports that a negotiating delegation traveled to Islamabad for talks with the United States, signaling renewed strain around efforts to sustain a fragile ceasefire. According to Iran’s state-linked Tasnim News Agency, claims that an Iranian team had arrived in Pakistan’s capital were “completely false.” The report emphasized …

The latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data signaled a notable slowdown in economic activity, with growth coming in below expectations and highlighting emerging headwinds for the economy. GDP expanded at an annualized rate of 0.5%, falling short of the anticipated 0.7% and marking a sharp decline from the previous quarter’s …

U.S. Jobless Claims Tick Higher, Labor Market Holds Steady Amid Rising Uncertainty New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose moderately last week, but the labor market continues to show resilience despite growing economic uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict. Initial jobless claims increased by 16,000 to 219,000 for the …

U.S. stock index futures edged lower Thursday as the euphoria of Wall Street’s best session in a year gave way to a more sober assessment of a ceasefire agreement already showing signs of strain. S&P 500 futures fell 0.3% to 6,782.81, Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.3% to 25,002.0, and Dow …

Gold prices remained largely unchanged in Asian trading on Thursday, following modest gains in the previous session, as investors weighed renewed tensions in the Middle East and the uncertain outlook for a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Spot gold hovered at $4,720.68 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for June slipped 0.7% …