A rally in equities eased, crude oil jumped and gold extended its slump as fragile optimism around a potential de-escalation in Middle East tensions gave way to renewed caution. Equity-index futures for the S&P 500 Index fell 0.5% and European shares were set to drop 0.8% at the open as sentiment weakened after the Wall Street Journal reported that US allies in the Persian Gulf are inching toward joining the fight against Iran. Adding to the downbeat tone, Iran’s deputy speaker ruled out talks with the US, echoing similar comments from other officials in the regime. As sentiment soured, Brent jumped 4% to about $104 a barrel. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index advanced 0.3% and yields on the two-year Treasury rose four basis points on expectations that higher oil prices may boost the chances of an interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Gold slid 1.5%, set for its longest losing daily streak on record, and Asian stocks rose 1.6%. The shift marked a reversal from Monday’s relief rally, when Wall Street stocks surged and oil slumped after President Donald Trump signaled a delay in strikes on Iranian energy assets. The conflict showed few signs of easing and the Strait of Hormuz — crucial for the flow of oil from the Middle East — remained effectively shut with only a trickle of vessels making their way through. Tuesday’s moves suggest investors are dialing back optimism that followed Trump’s signal of a delay in strikes, which was seen as a potential step toward de-escalation in the Middle East. Renewed tensions risk keeping oil prices elevated, potentially stoking inflation and reinforcing expectations that policymakers may delay easing or even tighten policy further. Headlines about the Middle East continue to sway markets with traders staying focused on the Hormuz Strait. Since the conflict began, disruptions to traffic through the waterway have driven sharp price swings and heightened inflation risks, leaving progress in US-Iran talks pivotal to stabilizing energy markets and broader financial conditions.
Trump told reporters on Monday that he was holding off on striking Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, citing “major points of agreement” with the country. The abrupt shift caught traders off guard as there was little sign of diplomatic progress before the US president’s social media post. Tensions remained high in the Middle East. A gas pressure-regulation station and an associated administrative building were targeted in Iran’s central Isfahan province in recent US–Israeli attacks, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Iran also launched a new wave of missiles at Israel. BofA’s Winnie Wu says investors are starting to price in prolonged inflationary pressure. The key to de-escalation is not rhetoric, but financial conditions, said Noureldeen AlHammoury, chief market strategist at Equiti Group in Dubai. Markets remain on “hyper alert on the next development,” said Anna Wu, a cross asset strategist at Van Eck Associates Corp. in Sydney. US After Hours NTGR +14.5% sharply higher on favorable FCC announcement; CLB -6.1% under pressure after guidance cut; ABVX +2.1% higher on earnings.
Nikkei +0.79% Hang Seng +1.84% CSI +0.67% Shanghai +0.95% Shenzen +0.78%
Eur$ 1.1581 CNH 6.8957 CNY 6.8937 JPY 158.75 GBP 1.3393 CHF 0.7886 RUB 81.9392 TRY 44.3463 WTI$ 91.68 Gold 4,341 -1.91% BTC 70,370 -0.95% ETH 2,136 -1.31%
S&P -0.21% Nasdaq -0.21% EuroStoxx -0.07% FTSE -0.13% Dax -0.05% SMI -0.05%
Macro :
- Russia Looks to Restrict Foreign Oil-Service Firms: Izvestia
- Citadel Securities’ Rubner Sees Short Squeeze Fueling S&P Rally
- Citadel Securities’ Rubner Sees Short Squeeze Fueling S&P Rally
- Global Air Quality Worsened in 2025 and Poses Threat to Growth
- EU, Vietnam to Invest Over €560M in Clean Energy, Transport
- EU February Car Registrations Rise 1.4% Y/y to 0.865m Units (BYD +162%, STLA +9%, RNO BMW MBG lower, VOW TSLA higher)
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- ABVX FP : Abivax Announces Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates
- AGS BB : Ageas Holds 10% of Taiping Pension Co. After Capital Increase
- AKAST NO : Akastor’s HMH Holding Launches IPO to Raise Up to $231.4m
- AMZN US : Amazon Leo to Double Annual Launch Rate
- AMZN US : AWS eyeing 2-3 gigawatts India capacity on tax sops sweetener
- AMZN US : AWS Region in Bahrain ‘Disrupted’ After Drone Activity: Reuters
- ASML NA : SK Hynix to Buy EUV Scanner Worth 11.9t Won From ASML (6.9bil Euros - 21% of Annual Revenue)
- AAOI US : AOI Up on New ~$53m Order for 800G Data Center Transceivers
- BAMI IM : Credit Agricole Says It’s Not Seeking Control of Banco BPM
- BAYN GY : Activist Ubben’s Inclusive Capital Looks to Sell Stake in Bayer
- BO DC : B&O Prelim 3Q Revenue Misses Estimates
- BMW GY : BMW Recalls 179,527 Cars in China Over Fire Risk, Regulator Says
- BLX CN : Renewable Energy Firm Boralex Is Said To Explore Going Private
- BYD : 1211 HK : +2.64%
- CATL : 3750 HK : -3.78% - The Chinese Billionaire Who Says America’s EV Market Is Doomed Without Him - WSJ
- CON GY : Apollo, Bain Said Among Bidders for Continental Industrial Unit
- ACA IM : Credit Agricole Says It’s Not Seeking Control of Banco BPM
- DRW3 GY : Draegerwerk FY Ebit Beats Estimatesvlf
- EL US : Estée Lauder Falls on Report of Deal to Combine With Puig
- EQNR NO : Equinor Hunts for Shale Gas Expansion Targets in Marcellus Area
- EXA FP : Exail Technologies Holder Gorgé Offers 500,000 Shares
- EXO FP : Exor FY Net Assets Misses Estimates
- EXO FP : Agnellis’ Exor Plans to Deploy Over €3.5 Billion (March 23)
- EXO NA : Exor Sells Italian Media Group Gedi to Kyriakou Family’s Antenna
- EGLA IM : Eurogroup Laminations FY Revenue Misses Estimates
- FDR SM : Fluidra Extends 2027 Revolving Credit Facility Maturity to 2029
- GILD US : Gilead to Buy Ouro Medicines for as Much as $2.175 Billion
- GIMB BB : Gimv Secures €400 Million Revolving Credit Facility
- IDIA SW : Idorsia Proposes Three New Board Candidates for Election
- INH GY : Indus Holding Sees 2026 Revenue EU1.80B to EU1.95B, Est. EU1.82B
- IFCN SW : Inficon 2026 Sales Forecast Misses Estimates, Inficon Sees 2026 Operating Margin 17% to 19%, Est. 19.8%
- MSFT US : OpenAI calls out Microsoft reliance as risk in investor document ahead of expected IPO
- NTGR US : NTGR: Netgear higher after reports FCC bans foreign-made routers
- PHARM NO : Pharming Group Says Joenja Leniolisib Approved in Japan
- PUIG SM : Estée Lauder in Talks to Buy Spain’s Puig to Create Beauty Giant
- SAABB SS : Saab, Cohere Sign MoU on Advanced AI Collaboration
- SAABB SS : Saab, Cohere Sign MoU on Advanced AI Collaboration
- SATL US :
- SBMO NA : SBM Offshore Gets FEED Contracts for Longtail Project in Guyana
- 9986 JP : SoftBank tests its own borrowing limits with $30bn bet on OpenAI, Masayoshi Son faces investor nerves with massive spending on AI investments - FT
- SIE GY : Siemens Says Industry’s Demands Keep It Safe From AI Disruption
- 000660 KS : SK Hynix Weighs US Float to Raise Up to $10 Billion, Daily Says
- TECN SW : Spectrum Entrepreneurial Ownership Takes 3.4% Stake in Tecan
- TIT IM : Telecom Italia Confirms Received Bid From Poste Italiane
- TTE FP : Total Released From $1 Billion US Offshore Wind Leases
- TRST LN : Trustpilot Holder Offers Up to ~21.59m Shares
- VLA FP : Pfizer’s Lyme Vaccine Misses Mark in Study, Complicating Quest for Approval, Drugmaker seeking regulatory review for first new shot to combat disease in decades - WSJ
- WT US : WisdomTree Is Said to Offer 4.5% Coupon on Convertible Bond