#us-markets

#us-markets

At 7:46 a.m. Monday, Doornbos had posted on X that Iranian officials were still considering a U.S. proposal to end the war, 'centering around uranium enrichment.'

"Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, as highlighted by CNBC.

U.S. equity markets delivered a strong performance over the past week, supported by improving geopolitical sentiment and renewed investor confidence, with all major indices recording gains exceeding 3%.

Escalating geopolitical risk continued to dominate global markets' concerns, with safe-haven demand keeping the dollar index anchored near a multi-week high.

Shipping costs have increased by more than 10 percent in the past month due to the US-Israel war on Iran. The 60-day waiver for the Jones Act aimed to lower energy costs but has had little impact on oil prices, which continue to rise amid the ongoing conflict.

The move reflects a noticeable increase in market caution as investors begin to reprice rising macroeconomic risks. According to data from The Street, around 68% of stocks in the market declined in the latest session, while only about 28% advanced. This suggests that selling pressure was not limited to a few sectors but rather spread across the broader market, reflecting a state of broad risk-off selling.

Under the surface of soaring crude prices is the realization that the likelihood of Fed cuts later this year is quickly dwindling. Oil dominated the session. WTI crude has surged 33% over the past week, and Thursday added another 9.7% as Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

The Dow Jones industrial average crossed 50,000 for the first time, as ballooning tech valuations, robust corporate earnings and hopes of lower interest rates drive it to new highs. Chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average's performance over the past year Leading stock markets on Wall Street came under pressure earlier this week as technology stocks fell amid scrutiny of extraordinary levels of investment into artificial intelligence.

The New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations indicated that one-year inflation expectations rose to 3% in March, with gas price expectations jumping to 9%, the highest since March 2022.

Rising inflation concerns, hawkish monetary policy signals, and escalating geopolitical tensions weighed on risk assets. Energy markets are adding to the pressure. Oil prices surged following renewed attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East, intensifying concerns about inflationary pressure.