Oil prices plunge on US-Iran peace deal
Oil prices fell sharply as the United States and Iran reached a historic peace agreement to end the Mideast war. The deal, expected to be signed on Friday, includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Stock futures jumped on the news while crude oil futures dropped to multi-month lows. Markets broadly cheered the prospect of de-escalation in the region.
The United States and Iran have reached a comprehensive peace framework to end the ongoing Middle East conflict, with formal signing scheduled for Friday. President Trump confirmed the deal is complete and includes an end to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Markets reacted positively, though shippers and traders remain cautious as they await further details on implementation.
Asian stocks rallied sharply following news of the US-Iran peace deal and the impending reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump confirmed the strait will reopen after Friday's signing ceremony. Analysts warn that the economic damage from the prolonged blockade will leave lasting scars across Asia despite the relief from reopening.
Chinese markets showed mixed signals as AI stocks diverged sharply, with Zhipu surging while Minimax stumbled. JPMorgan identified a Chinese consumer stock with potential to double if its global industrial pivot succeeds. Meanwhile, Chinese state media emphasized the importance of financial structure optimization for the country's continued development.
Global equity markets soared on the historic US-Iran peace deal, with Japan's Nikkei surging 5% and SoftBank jumping over 12%. Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks also rallied as crude oil prices fell to three-month lows. The broad-based risk-on rally reflected investor optimism about the end of the Middle East conflict and the reopening of key trade routes.