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  • Wall Street Futures Suggest Muted Start as Investors Await Developments: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq

    Wall Street Futures Suggest Muted Start as Investors Await Developments: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq

    U.S. stock futures indicated a largely flat opening on Friday, pointing to a cautious tone as markets pause following a late rebound in the previous session.

    Investors appear hesitant to take decisive positions amid continued uncertainty surrounding the Middle East ceasefire.

    Ahead of scheduled U.S.-Iran discussions in Pakistan this weekend, President Donald Trump criticized Iran, saying it is doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, adding, “That is not the agreement we have!”

    He also addressed reports that Iran may be charging fees to tankers passing through the key shipping route, warning, “They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!”

    “With talks between Tehran and Washington set to get underway on Saturday, investors could be in for a fretful weekend as they wait for indications of whether a path to lasting peace is possible,” said AJ Bell’s head of markets Dan Coatsworth. “Ahead of this, investors may well be tempted to hedge their bets.”

    Futures showed little movement after the Labor Department reported that U.S. consumer prices rose in line with expectations in March.

    Following Wednesday’s strong rally, stocks retreated early in Thursday’s session before rebounding later in the day. The major indices recovered from intraday lows and closed in positive territory.

    This extended the upward momentum, pushing the benchmarks to their highest closing levels in over a month.

    The Nasdaq gained 187.42 points, or 0.8%, to 22,822.42, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 275.88 points, or 0.6%, to 48,185.80, and the S&P 500 advanced 41.85 points, or 0.6%, to 6,824.66.

    The turnaround came as traders monitored geopolitical developments and their effect on oil markets.

    Crude oil initially rebounded sharply after Wednesday’s steep drop, before paring gains while still ending significantly higher.

    The earlier surge reflected concerns about the stability of the ceasefire, with Iran accusing the U.S. and Israel of breaching the agreement.

    Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said in an interview with the BBC that the country had once again shut the Strait of Hormuz.

    Khatibzadeh described Israel’s strikes on Lebanon as an “intentional grave violation” of the ceasefire.

    Oil prices later eased after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible.”

    He added that the discussions would focus on disarming Hezbollah and working toward more stable ties between the two nations.

    On a sector basis, retail stocks posted strong gains, with the Dow Jones U.S. Retail Index rising 2.9% to its highest level in more than two months.

    Semiconductor stocks also performed well, as reflected in a 2.1% increase in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.

    Transportation and banking stocks moved higher, while software shares remained under pressure throughout the session.

  • European Shares Advance on Prospects of Israel-Lebanon Talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Shares Advance on Prospects of Israel-Lebanon Talks: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets traded higher on Friday after Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Israel is open to direct negotiations with Lebanon, while maintaining that military operations against Hezbollah across the country would continue.

    On the economic front, data from Destatis showed that German consumer inflation accelerated to its highest level since January 2024, driven largely by rising energy costs following the Iran conflict.

    Consumer prices increased 2.7% year on year in March, up from 1.9% in February, in line with preliminary figures released at the end of March. The reading marks the strongest inflation level since early 2024.

    Harmonized inflation across the euro area framework also climbed to 2.8%, matching expectations and rising from 2.0% the previous month.

    In the markets, the DAX gained 0.8%, the CAC 40 rose 0.7%, and the FTSE 100 advanced 0.3%.

    Among individual stocks, Porsche (TG:PAH3) declined after reporting weaker first-quarter delivery figures.

    Sodexo (EU:SW) also came under pressure following a sharp drop in first-half earnings and a downgrade to its full-year sales and profit outlook.

    On the upside, Skanska (BIT:1SKAB) gained after announcing a contract to build a high-tech facility in the United States valued at approximately SEK 1.3 billion.

  • Aquis Stock Exchange Weekly Highlights 06.04.26

    Aquis Stock Exchange Weekly Highlights 06.04.26

    Time To ACT Plc (AQSE:TTA) raised £415,000 through the issuance of new shares, with proceeds set to support a range of investment initiatives. Read more

    Ethtry PLC (AQSE:ETHY) has deployed £100,000 to purchase 66.7 ETHthe company now holds 817 ETH on its balance sheet of which 750 ETH is currently being staked.

    Mike Murphy, Director, commented: “With our treasury position growing to 816.6737 ETH and our holdings moving into staking, we are continuing to build a treasury platform designed to create long-term shareholder value and meaningful exposure to the Ethereum ecosystem.” Read more

    Cooks Coffee Company Limited (AQSE:COOK) announced that its Esquires brand has received two awards at the recent Irish Franchise Association Awards 2026; Franchisee of the Year 2026 – Food and Beverage and Franchisor of the year 2026 – Expanding (Food and Non-Food).

    Aiden Keegan, CEO of Cooks Coffee, said: “We are delighted to see Esquires recognised across a number of categories at the Irish Franchise Association Awards, demonstrating both brand-level performance and the achievements of our franchise partners. These awards reinforce Esquires’ position as a leading ethical coffee brand and align with our focus on embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles throughout the business.” Read more

    Wishbone Gold Plc (AQSE:WSBN) announced the signing of an option for a cash payment of £100,000, to acquire the Silver Lake Project, a silver prospect in the Carnarvon Basin of Western Australia. Read more

    All Aquis Stock Exchange Announcements

  • Brunello Cucinelli Shares Rise on Strong Q1 Sales Performance

    Brunello Cucinelli Shares Rise on Strong Q1 Sales Performance

    Shares in Brunello Cucinelli (BIT:BC) climbed more than 4% on Friday after the Italian luxury group reported first-quarter sales that exceeded expectations, driven by robust demand in the Americas and Asia, which helped offset weaker wholesale performance in Europe.

    Revenue for the quarter reached €369 million, marking a 14% increase at constant exchange rates (CER), significantly ahead of the Visible Alpha consensus forecast of around 10.6% growth.

    Retail performance stood out, with sales surging 20.1% in CER terms, well above expectations of approximately 14.7%, and building on a 10% growth base from the same period last year. Retail sales expanded at a double-digit rate across all regions.

    Geographically, the Americas delivered the strongest growth at 20.3% CER, outperforming expectations of 14.3%, while Asia recorded a 17.8% increase versus a forecast of 12.4%.

    Europe was comparatively weaker, posting 4.4% growth in CER, slightly below the 5.9% consensus estimate. This was mainly due to softer wholesale activity, as the company continues to limit orders to avoid excess inventory and protect pricing from discounting.

    The group reaffirmed its full-year outlook, maintaining guidance for 10% growth in both 2026 and 2027.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley, who rate the stock Overweight with a €95 price target, said the results support their positive stance.

    “We think the company remains one of the structurally strongest growth stories in luxury,” they wrote.

    “Our recent channel checks across European retailers and feedback from China have been very positive on the brand and continue to point to strong momentum at Brunello Cucinelli and expectations for a strong year ahead, with a runway for growth,” the analysts noted.

    Regarding recent trading, the company indicated that trends in early April were broadly in line with March. While the Middle East saw a decline in foot traffic—down 50% in March due to regional tensions—this was offset by stronger performance in other markets. The region still made a positive contribution to overall first-quarter growth, supported by solid results in January and February.

  • TotalEnergies Flags Damage at Saudi Refinery Following Midweek Incident

    TotalEnergies Flags Damage at Saudi Refinery Following Midweek Incident

    TotalEnergies (LSE:TTE) said on Friday that one of the processing units at the SATORP refinery in Saudi Arabia was damaged after an incident that took place overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

    The French energy group stated that it halted the affected units as a precautionary measure to ensure safety and is currently evaluating the extent of the impact on overall refinery operations.

    Located in Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia, the SATORP refinery is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies.

    The company did not disclose further details regarding the cause of the incident or the level of damage sustained by the facility.

  • B&M Shares Slide After Retailer Announces CFO Change

    B&M Shares Slide After Retailer Announces CFO Change

    Shares of B&M European Value Retail (LSE:BME) dropped more than 3% on Friday after the UK’s largest discount variety retailer unveiled a series of leadership changes, including a shift in its finance function.

    The group confirmed that Helen Cowing has stepped down from her role as Interim Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. She has been replaced on a temporary basis by Peter Waterhouse, the company’s Group Financial Controller, who joined B&M in 2013 and has held senior finance positions since 2020. Waterhouse will remain in the role while the company searches for a permanent CFO.

    Trading activity was relatively subdued, with around 1.94 million shares changing hands—about 82% below the stock’s 30-day average volume.

    Despite a modest recovery of roughly 8% since the start of the year, the shares remain under pressure, sitting just 15.9% above their all-time low of 154p recorded in November 2025 and still down approximately 37% over the past 12 months.

  • Gold Eases Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks and Inflation Data, Still Poised for Weekly Gain

    Gold Eases Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks and Inflation Data, Still Poised for Weekly Gain

    Gold prices slipped modestly during Asian trading on Friday but remained on track to post a weekly increase, underpinned by a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Investors stayed cautious, however, ahead of expected diplomatic talks over the weekend.

    Spot gold fell 0.2% to $4,752.29 per ounce as of 02:31 ET (06:31 GMT), holding just below recent three-week highs. U.S. gold futures declined 0.9% to $4,776.67.

    Even with the pullback, bullion is set to rise around 1.5% on the week, marking a third consecutive weekly gain.

    Markets watch U.S.-Iran talks as ceasefire shows strain

    The temporary ceasefire announced earlier in the week between Washington and Tehran helped calm global markets, although signs of tension persist due to ongoing military activity in Lebanon.

    The Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for global oil shipments, remains largely restricted. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Iran for doing a “poor job” of allowing energy supplies to flow.

    Attention has now shifted to anticipated U.S.-Iran discussions over the weekend, which are expected to shed more light on the geopolitical outlook.

    However, Iranian media reported that Tehran denied sending a delegation to Islamabad for negotiations with U.S. officials, adding that talks will remain on hold unless Washington fulfills its commitments regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon and Israeli strikes come to an end.

    Inflation data in focus as dollar weakens

    Oil prices have pulled back this week after previously surging close to $120 per barrel following threats from President Trump to take action against Iran.

    Higher energy prices have fueled concerns about global inflation, complicating the outlook for central banks and raising expectations that interest rates could stay elevated for longer.

    The U.S. Dollar Index edged up 0.1% on the day but remains on track to fall more than 1% over the week. A softer dollar tends to support gold by making it more affordable for buyers outside the United States.

    Investors are now awaiting the release of U.S. consumer price index data later on Friday, which could provide further direction for Federal Reserve policy.

    Economists expect headline inflation to accelerate, largely driven by higher energy costs tied to Middle East tensions.

    Silver rose 0.3% to $75.54 per ounce, while platinum declined 1.8% to $2,065.97 per ounce.

    Copper also advanced, with benchmark futures on the London Metal Exchange rising 0.4% to $12,743.33 per tonne, and U.S. copper futures gaining 0.6% to $5.79 per pound.

  • Oil Advances on Saudi Supply Concerns as Hormuz Shipping Remains Constrained

    Oil Advances on Saudi Supply Concerns as Hormuz Shipping Remains Constrained

    Oil prices pushed higher on Friday as fresh worries over supply disruptions in Saudi Arabia combined with ongoing restrictions on tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Despite the gains, crude was still on course for a weekly decline as market tensions eased somewhat following a fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Sentiment also improved after Israel signalled a possible diplomatic opening, indicating it was prepared to begin direct discussions with Lebanon.

    Brent crude futures climbed 96 cents, or 1%, to $96.88 per barrel at 06:04 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 78 cents, or 0.80%, to $98.65 per barrel.

    Even with Friday’s increase, both benchmarks have fallen around 11% so far this week, marking their steepest weekly drop since June 2025, when earlier Israeli-U.S. military operations against Iran were paused.

    Recent strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure have reduced the kingdom’s oil production capacity by approximately 600,000 barrels per day and cut flows through the East-West Pipeline by roughly 700,000 barrels per day, according to Saudi state news agency SPA, citing an Energy Ministry source.

    Analysts at ANZ said the developments have heightened fears of additional supply disruptions in global oil markets.

    At the same time, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely limited, with volumes still below 10% of normal levels despite the ceasefire. Iran has reinforced its grip on the passage by requiring vessels to remain within its territorial waters during transit.

    Although Iran and the U.S. agreed earlier in the week to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, clashes have continued since the announcement.

    Analysts suggest Pakistan may seek to facilitate a longer-term peace agreement, though it may lack the leverage needed to ensure the full reopening of the critical shipping corridor.

    Iran has also floated the idea of imposing transit fees on vessels using the strait as part of any broader peace settlement, a proposal that has drawn opposition from Western governments and international maritime authorities.

    The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil and gas flows, has effectively been constrained since the conflict began on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran.

    John Paisie, president of Stratas Advisors, said Brent prices could surge to as high as $190 per barrel if current restrictions on shipping flows persist.

    “If Iran allows increasing flows the price of oil will be more moderated, but still well above pre-war levels.”

    Mukesh Sahdev, founder and CEO of XAnalysts, noted that the “key variable now is how flows through the Strait of Hormuz actually resume – not whether they reopen.”

    Since the conflict began, roughly 50 infrastructure assets across the Gulf have been hit by drone and missile attacks, while about 2.4 million barrels per day of refining capacity have been taken offline, according to JPMorgan.

  • Markets Hold Steady as Fragile U.S.-Iran Truce Persists; CPI Data in Spotlight: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Markets Hold Steady as Fragile U.S.-Iran Truce Persists; CPI Data in Spotlight: Dow Jones, S&P, Nasdaq, Wall Street Futures

    Futures tied to major U.S. stock indices showed little movement on Friday, as investors remained cautious amid a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Ongoing Israeli strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon have heightened uncertainty ahead of potential weekend talks between Washington and Tehran. At the same time, oil prices edged higher while gold slipped, with market participants also preparing for key U.S. inflation data.

    Futures remain subdued

    U.S. equity futures traded with a cautious tone early in the session, reflecting concerns over geopolitical tensions, continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and the imminent release of inflation figures.

    As of 03:27 ET, Dow futures were down 60 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 futures fell by 4 points, or 0.15%, and Nasdaq 100 futures were largely unchanged.

    Wall Street closed the previous session higher, supported by remarks from Benjamin Netanyahu indicating that Israel may pursue talks with Lebanon. Despite the announcement of a temporary ceasefire earlier in the week, Israeli forces have continued targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah positions, including strikes reported on Friday.

    Iranian officials have suggested that continued Israeli military action could jeopardize any planned negotiations with the U.S., particularly if attacks persist. There also appears to be disagreement between Washington and Tehran over whether Lebanon is covered by the current ceasefire arrangement.

    Even so, expectations for a potential easing of tensions have helped sustain risk appetite. U.S. equities have now recorded seven consecutive sessions of gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average returning to positive territory for the year.

    Outside geopolitical developments, consumer discretionary stocks were supported after Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) CEO Andy Jassy said the company’s cloud-based artificial intelligence services are generating more than $15 billion in revenue.

    Oil rises on supply disruptions

    Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily constrained, with volumes still running below 10% of normal levels despite the ceasefire.

    Iran has instructed vessels to remain within its territorial waters when passing through the strait, a critical route for global oil supplies. This disruption continues to impact countries heavily reliant on energy imports, particularly in Asia, while Europe depends on gas supplies from Gulf nations affected by recent tensions.

    In addition, attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure have reduced oil production capacity by roughly 600,000 barrels per day and cut flows along the East-West Pipeline by about 700,000 barrels per day.

    These supply concerns helped push oil prices higher. Brent crude rose 1.4% to $97.24 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 1.4% to $99.25. Although the ceasefire has set crude on course for its sharpest weekly decline since June 2025, prices remain elevated compared with pre-conflict levels.

    Gold dips but set for weekly gain

    Gold prices moved lower during European trading but remained on track for a weekly advance.

    Despite its traditional role as a safe-haven asset, gold has struggled during the Iran conflict. Higher oil prices have fueled inflation concerns and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates elevated for longer, which tends to weigh on non-yielding assets like gold.

    Investors have instead favored the U.S. dollar, which has strengthened and made gold more expensive for international buyers. However, the dollar has weakened over the past week amid renewed optimism around a potential ceasefire.

    “These levels clearly embed plenty of optimism, but another leg lower for USD is on the cards once, or if, a permanent peace deal is agreed and Strait of Hormuz flows resume,” analysts at ING said in a note.

    Focus turns to inflation data

    Attention now shifts to the release of U.S. consumer price index data for March, which could provide insight into the inflationary impact of recent energy price increases.

    Economists expect headline inflation to accelerate sharply from February levels, driven largely by rising gasoline prices linked to geopolitical tensions. The national average price of gasoline has climbed above $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, while diesel prices have also surged.

    However, the data is likely to capture only the immediate effects of higher oil prices. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, is expected to rise at a more moderate pace.

    ING analysts noted that the Federal Reserve may place less emphasis on the headline figure in the near term.

    TSMC posts strong revenue growth

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM) reported a sharp increase in first-quarter revenue, driven by strong demand tied to artificial intelligence.

    March revenue climbed 45.2% year on year to T$415.19 billion ($13.07 billion), while rising 30.7% compared with February.

    For the quarter, total revenue reached T$1.13 trillion, slightly exceeding estimates and marking a significant increase from T$839.25 billion recorded a year earlier.

  • European Stocks Edge Higher as Markets Monitor Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Stocks Edge Higher as Markets Monitor Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equity markets opened slightly firmer on Friday, taking cues from gains on Wall Street after Benjamin Netanyahu indicated a willingness to pursue talks with Lebanon.

    As of 07:13 GMT, the Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.2%, while Germany’s DAX rose 0.4%. The FTSE 100 added 0.1%, and France’s CAC 40 hovered around flat.

    The remarks helped lift sentiment around a potential extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire ahead of possible talks between Washington and Tehran over the weekend. However, the situation remains uncertain. Iran’s foreign minister warned that the country would not take part in discussions in Pakistan if Israeli strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon continue.

    Israel confirmed further military action on Friday, while Netanyahu stated there is “no ceasefire” in Lebanon, underscoring the fragile nature of the truce.

    Meanwhile, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted. According to reports, flows through the key waterway are still operating at less than 10% of normal levels, despite the ceasefire. Iran has reportedly instructed vessels to remain within its territorial waters when transiting the strait, which is critical for global oil supply.

    The disruption is particularly significant for Asian economies that rely heavily on crude shipments passing through the region, while Europe depends on natural gas from Persian Gulf producers, some of which have been affected by recent Iranian actions.

    In Saudi Arabia, attacks on energy infrastructure have reduced oil production capacity by around 600,000 barrels per day and cut throughput on the East-West Pipeline by approximately 700,000 barrels per day, further tightening supply conditions.

    These factors have supported oil prices. Brent crude was last up 1.4% at $97.24 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained a similar amount to $99.25. Although the temporary ceasefire has put oil on track for its largest weekly decline since June 2025, prices remain elevated compared with levels prior to the escalation in late February.

    Rising energy costs have heightened concerns about inflation, potentially prompting tighter monetary policy from central banks such as the European Central Bank. Bond markets have been volatile as investors assess how geopolitical developments could shape the outlook for interest rates, with knock-on effects for equities.

    Further clarity may come later in the day with the release of U.S. inflation data for March. Economists expect a sharp increase in headline inflation, largely driven by higher fuel prices following the recent energy shock.

    “Markets aren’t being provided with clear direction at the moment. There is a strong sense that the ceasefire is fragile, with ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon proving a key friction in U.S.-Iran negotiations,” analysts at ING said in a note.

    In corporate news, Sodexo (EU:SW) lowered its full-year sales and profit guidance, while AO World (LSE:AO.) said it expects annual profit to reach the upper end of its forecast range.