Wall Street rose sharply after the announcement of an agreement between Washington and Tehran, seen as a major turning point for the stability of the Middle East. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz immediately led to a decline in oil prices and a marked return to the appetite for risk in equities.
The movement is clear on the indices: the Dow Jones gained 0.92% to 51,671 points, the S&P 500 increased by 1.65% to 7,554 points and the Nasdaq soared by 3.07% to 26,683 points. The drop in WTI crude, down around 5% towards 80 dollars, reinforces the scenario of an inflationary easing linked to energy.
The agreement, presented as finalized by the American authorities and confirmed by several international mediators, provides for the lifting of the blockade in the strait, a reduction in sanctions on Iranian oil and a framework for discussions on nuclear power. The text still remains vague on certain points, but the markets mainly retain military de-escalation and the gradual normalization of energy flows.
On the macroeconomic level, investors are dealing with contrasting data. Manufacturing activity in the New York region is slowing but remains expanding, while industrial production is growing slowly and real estate continues to show signs of fragility. The whole outlines an economy that is slowing down without tipping over.
Attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve, expected this week. The dominant scenario remains that of a status quo on rates, but debates on the monetary trajectory remain open in a context where inflation remains sensitive.
In this climate, values linked to major market themes are attracting attention. AI and space players continue to attract flows, with marked movements in SpaceX, while Nvidia is strengthening its use of bond financing to support its investments. The media sector is also experiencing a rapid restructuring with the announced merger between Fox and Roku, illustrating the ongoing consolidation in streaming.
The market therefore remains dominated by two forces: geopolitical appeasement on the one hand, and the acceleration of investments in artificial intelligence on the other.
