Il US naval blockade of Iranian ports it started: a new bad news for global oil supply. But the markets are crossing their fingers and instead look at the possibility that resume talks to achieve peace in the Middle East. Investors are ready to shoot if peace were to emerge and the first sectors to indicate the desire to run are those related to technology andartificial intelligence, considered those least affected by the war in the Middle East.
According to some sources, the United States and Iran I'm in talks to organize another round of direct negotiations to reach a longer-term ceasefire. The goal is to start new talks before the expiration of the two-week ceasefire announced on April 7, and one option is to return to Islamabad for a second round of negotiations. Trump has expressed his willingness to engage in further talks, stating that Iran has sought dialogue with the United States, while continuing its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
This was enough to trigger a recovery in global stock markets, with the Asian stocks rise, driven by tech, in line with the US and European futures, while the prices of the Petroleum they went down again below $100 a barrel.
Wall Street closed higher yesterday. Tech appetite returns: Oracle up 13%.
Yesterday on Wall Street, after a subdued start to the session, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 accelerated in the afternoon following Trump's more conciliatory statements. Dow Jones closed up 0,63%, S & P 500 to +1,02%, Nasdaq at +1,23%. Analysts say investors don't want to be caught off guard: if a solution is reached quickly, the market could see a significant jump, and they don't want to miss the train. At yesterday's close, the index S & P 500 had recovered all the losses accumulated since the beginning of the war, closing 0,1% higher than its close on February 27. Since the outbreak of hostilities, the S&P index has lost up to 7,8% from pre-war levels.
Among the 11 major industrial sectors in the S&P 500 index, those that posted the biggest gains were financial servicesie of the technology, both with a +1,7%. The technology sector in particular was driven by software companies, including ecosystem which closed with a +3,6% and Oracle which jumped 12,7% and was the largest percentage gain in the S&P 500 Index.
The president of the Chicago Federal Reserve, Austan Goolsbee said that oil futures markets are pricing in the expectation that the surge in oil prices will be short-lived and that, until it does, the impact on the U.S. economy could be limited.
Goldman Sachs Group, which marked the start of the US earnings season, fell 1,9%, becoming the weakest stock in the Dow Jones, after the release of quarterly results that nevertheless showed better-than-expected earnings, driven by strong mergers and acquisitions and equity trading. Investors were, however, concerned by weak revenues from fixed income, currencies, and commodity trading. Three other banking giants are scheduled for today: JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup Inc. in addition to those of Johnson & Johnson.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the CEO of United Airlines Holdings Inc. has floated the possibility of a merger with American Airlines Group Inc. Shares of American Airlines jumped as much as 10% in after-hours trading.
Asia positive driven by technology
Le asian bags followed the positive trend of Wall Street, with the regional benchmark index up 1,7% and technology stocks They drove earnings.
L'technology index MSCI's Asia-Pacific index is up 3,8% and companies like Kioxia Holdings Corp. which recorded a surge in 15% in Tokyo. Il Nikkei Japan's 225 shares rise 2,3%. Softbank jumped by more than 10%. The issuance of 20-year Japanese government bonds saw the highest demand since 2019.
The Taiex index of Taiwan reached a record level, thanks to the return of investors to the theme ofartificial intelligence, considered less affected from the war in Iran. The South Korean Kospi, emblem of investments in AI, jumped by 3,6%, reaching a maximum of six weeks, with SK Hynix Inc. up nearly 9%, hitting new all-time highs. Shares of Samsung Electronics rose more than 4% as investors flocked to chipmakers and exporters tied to global technology demand.
In China, data showed a sharp slowdown in exportsExport shipments rose only 2,5% year-on-year in March, missing expectations of an 8,3% increase and significantly slowing from the 21,8% jump seen in the January-February period. Imports, by contrast, rose 27,8%, far exceeding forecasts and signaling resilient domestic demand. The data also showed a sharp decline in China's trade surplus, falling to around $51 billion, well below expectations, highlighting the pressure on the country's export engine amid rising global uncertainty. China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 0,5%, while the blue-chip CSI 300 index of Shanghai and Shenzhen advanced 0,8%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0,4%.
A SingaporeThe central bank tightened its monetary policy today, warning of inflation risks stemming from the war in the Middle East. The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 0,5%.
Oil Brent fell 1,3% to $98,07 a barrel. WTI is at $97,28 (-1,8%).
Il dollar weakened against most G10 currencies, while the US Treasury securities They edged higher as inflation fears eased, with the 10-year yield falling one basis point to 4,28%. It recovered ground after two days of losses, settling around $4.775 an ounce, while copper reached its highest level in over a month. Bitcoin rose to around $74.400.
European stock markets saw a higher opening. At the Milan Stock Exchange, eyes are on Nexi and Danieli.
European stock markets are expected to open higher: the Eurostoxx50 future is up 0,41%.
Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank BlackRock, the bank's third-largest shareholder with 4,9%, will support Plt Holding's slate, which proposes reappointing Luigi Lovaglio as CEO. The agency reports this. Handle citing "qualified sources". Again according to HandleVanguard, which holds about 3%, would support the board's list.
Bper, the People's Bank of Sondrio – The merger deed will be effective from April 20.
Eni – Oddo raised the target price to 26 euros, from 23 euros previously, with a Neutral rating confirmed.
Intesa Sanpaolo – Morningstar lowered its rating from Hold to Sell, with a target price unchanged at $33.
nexi – Goldman Sachs has lowered its recommendation from Buy to Neutral, with a target price of 3,5 euros, from the previous 6 euros.
Pirelli Sinochem may take legal action after receiving, last week, the decree on the Italian government's exercise of its golden power over Pirelli's corporate governance.
Salvatore Ferragamo – Morningstar has lowered its recommendation from Hold to Sell, with a confirmed target price of €6,40.
Saipem – Jefferies raised its target price to €5,10, from €3,50 previously. Buy rating confirmed.
lvmhIn the first quarter of 2026, sales for the Fashion & Leather Goods division fell 2% year-on-year to €9,24 billion, the seventh consecutive quarter of decline. Consensus forecasts were for a decline of 1%. LVMH said the conflict in Iran reduced the group's sales growth in March by 3 percentage points. Performance in China showed positive signs, North America remained solid, while Europe and Japan were penalized by lower tourist influxes. Sales for the Wines & Spirits division grew 5% organically year-on-year.
STM – Morningstar has lowered its recommendation from Hold to Sell, with a confirmed target price of €26.
Telecom Italy – It has appointed Goldman Sachs and Evercore as financial advisors to assist the telephone group in evaluating the takeover bid launched by Poste Italiane. This was reported by Reuters Citing two sources, the EU has approved the acquisition of Sparkle by a consortium led by the Italian Treasury for €700 million. The green light from the US antitrust authority is still pending.
Terna Cassa Depositi e Prestiti appoints Pasqualino Monti as CEO of the group, as expected
Danieli – It has signed a contract worth approximately €450 million with the Marcegaglia steel group for the construction of a steel production and flat product rolling plant in Fos-sur-Mer, France.
