Wall Street mixed as Iran talks stall, oil rises

NEW YORK — Wall Street opened the week on a mixed note as stalled negotiations between the U.S. and Iran pushed oil prices higher and investors turned their attention to a critical stretch of earnings and economic data.

Futures for the S&P 500 were flat ahead of the opening bell, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%. Meanwhile, Nasdaq futures rose 0.2%, supported by strength in technology stocks.

Oil rises as Iran talks remain deadlocked

Markets are closely tracking tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions continue to impact global energy supply.

Iran has reportedly предложed easing its blockade of the route in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions and ending its naval blockade. However, Donald Trump is unlikely to accept the proposal, as it does not address Tehran’s nuclear program.

As a result, uncertainty remains high.

Brent crude climbed to nearly $100 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark oil approached $95. Gasoline prices in the United States also rose, averaging $4.11 per gallon — significantly higher than a year ago.

Tech earnings take center stage

Investors are now shifting focus to a wave of earnings reports from major technology companies.

Results are expected this week from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Apple.

Their performance could shape the next move in markets, especially after the S&P 500 surged nearly 13% in less than a month.

Central banks and data in focus

Beyond earnings, investors are preparing for a busy week of monetary policy decisions.

Key updates are expected from the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England.

Markets will also digest fresh economic indicators, including U.S. growth data, inflation figures and consumer confidence readings.

Global markets show mixed performance

International markets reflected cautious optimism.

Germany’s DAX rose 0.9%, while France’s CAC 40 gained 0.7%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.4% to a new intraday high, supported by strong demand for AI-related stocks.

However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged lower, highlighting uneven sentiment across regions.

Geopolitics continues to drive volatility

The ongoing standoff between the U.S. and Iran remains a key driver of market uncertainty.

Disruptions in energy supply chains are feeding inflation concerns and complicating the outlook for central banks.

For now, markets are balancing strong corporate earnings against rising geopolitical risks — a tension likely to define trading in the days ahead.