Iran lays down pre-conditions for end to Israel-US war
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has set recognition of Tehran’s inalienable rights, payment of war ...
Wall Street climbed sharply on Monday, with Nvidia up 5.8% and Palantir 8.8%, as artificial intelligence (AI) stocks rebound and progress in Congress raises hopes of ending the U.S. government shutdown.
The Senate cleared an initial hurdle late Sunday on a compromise to restore federal funding, though final approval from Congress remains uncertain.
“The government shutdown lasted longer than expected. There were concerns about the economy, potential flight disruptions, and broader impacts,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. Tech Stocks Lead the Rebound
Heavyweight tech companies recovered from recent losses. The S&P 500 technology sector index had fallen 4.2% last week. Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, rose 5.8%, while AI analytics firm Palantir jumped 8.8%. Tesla added 3.7%.
Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird, said, “This is a rebound after being slightly oversold last week. The 'buy the dip' approach is acting quickly in the tech and AI space. Earnings in this sector have been strong.”
Overall, the S&P 500 climbed 1.54% to 6,832.43 points, the Nasdaq gained 2.27% to 23,527.17 points — its largest one-day percentage gain since May 27 — and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.81% to 47,368.63 points.
The small-cap Russell 2000 added 0.9%, while the PHLX semiconductor index jumped 3%. Trading volume was relatively light at 17.9 billion shares, compared with a 20-session average of 20.8 billion. Airlines Face Pressure
Airlines were under pressure as flight cuts and air traffic controller shortages continued to disrupt travel. United Airlines fell 1.3%, and American Airlines declined 2.5%. Betting website Polymarket indicated an 88% probability that the shutdown would end this week.
The historic shutdown has left gaps in federal economic data, forcing markets and the Federal Reserve to rely on private indicators, providing a mixed picture. Some Fed officials reiterated caution ahead of upcoming monetary policy decisions, while Fed Governor Stephen Miran called for a significant rate cut. AI Optimism and Earnings Season
The AI sector has fuelled a broader bull run in U.S. stocks this year, though monetisation concerns and internal spending previously triggered a market sell-off. Last week, the Nasdaq recorded its worst performance in more than seven months.
Third-quarter earnings season is nearly complete, with 83% of the 446 S&P 500 companies reporting results exceeding expectations, according to LSEG data.
Health insurer stocks fell after the Senate’s shutdown deal excluded extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies, pushing the issue to a December vote. Centene dropped 8.8%, Humana fell 5.4%, and Elevance Health declined 4.4%.
Metsera plunged 14.8% after Pfizer won a $10 billion bidding war to acquire the company, while Eli Lilly rose 4.6% to a record high following a Leerink Partners upgrade.
Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners in the S&P 500 by a 1.7-to-1 ratio. The S&P 500 recorded 32 new highs and 8 new lows, while the Nasdaq saw 106 new highs and 128 new lows.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
Explosive-laden Iranian boats reportedly attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters on Wednesday, killing one crew member, after four other vessels were hit in the Gulf. The attacks, targeting ships linked to the U.S. and Europe, raise the total struck in the region.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
The prevailing security situation in the region has done little to deter entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who continue to view Dubai as a premier and safe location for business.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as the escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to rattle investors, fuelling volatility in stocks and sending energy prices sharply higher.
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.
The European Commission sees no immediate impact on the European Union's security of oil supply from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it said in an email to EU governments, seen by Reuters on Monday (2 March).
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