Global stock markets on Thursday remained focused on the progress of negotiations for peace in the Middle East, while also digesting a new wave of corporate earnings.
In Europe, Paris lost 0.14% and Milan 0.27%. London gained 0.29% and Frankfurt 0.36%.
In New York, for the second consecutive session, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hit record highs at the close, gaining 0.36% to 24,102.70 points and 0.26% to 7,041.28 points respectively. The Dow Jones rose by 0.24%.
On Wall Street, Patrick O’Hare from Briefing.com commented that the momentum is building and investors are pushing to see how far they can go.
According to analysts, Wall Street is benefiting from positive signals regarding the conflict in the Middle East, particularly through recent comments by the American president.
President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Iran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, one of his requirements for a deal with Tehran, and announced a ceasefire on the Lebanese front of the conflict.
Iran has not immediately confirmed this information, as negotiations are ongoing under Pakistan’s auspices to organize a second round of talks, following the failure of the first in Islamabad last weekend.
Oil prices rose on Thursday amid concerns about the situation in the Middle East. The price of Brent crude for June delivery surged 4.70% to $99.39 per barrel, while the West Texas Intermediate for May delivery increased by 3.72% to $94.69 per barrel.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil, remains closed by Tehran.
Experts warn that if the conflict intensifies and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for several months, oil prices could rise significantly.
Analytics from firms like ING indicate that the loss of oil from the Gulf has reached about 13 million barrels per day.
In the corporate world, Barry Callebaut fell over 15% in Zurich due to lower-than-expected results for the first half of the year and revised targets because of the rapid decline in cocoa prices.
Meanwhile, Tesco, the leading British supermarket chain, reported higher profits for the 2025-2026 fiscal year but expressed concerns about the impact of the Middle East conflict on its current financial year. Tesco’s stock rose by 4.13%.
In Paris, Pernod Ricard, a French spirits group, lost ground (-0.54%) due to the Middle East conflict affecting its results and negotiations for a merger with American company Brown-Forman, owner of Jack Daniel’s whiskey.
On Wall Street, PepsiCo, the American snacks and beverages giant, announced a significant increase in first-quarter results, driven by strong beverage sales in its main market, North America.
Published on April 16 at 22:44 GMT by AFP.
/2026/04/17/69e1d644bdc12131578828.jpg "Disarmament of Hezbollah: The Lebanese army absolutely wants to avoid confrontation with the Shiite organization, explains a journalist")
