S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe yield on the UK’s 10-year gilt climbed to 4.74%, reflecting a cautious market balancing optimism over US-Iran peace talks against persistent economic risks. While mediators reported progress in extending the ceasefire, and US President Donald Trump suggested a possible breakthrough, uncertainty lingers after Washington announced plans to deploy 10,000 additional troops to the region. The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz is keeping energy costs and inflation elevated, prompting markets to price in two Bank of England interest rate hikes this year. Investors are also watching today’s meeting between UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington. The discussions come after Trump’s recent comments to Sky News heightened tensions and cast doubt on last year’s trade deal. On Tuesday, Reeves issued her strongest criticism yet of Trump’s Middle East conflict, emphasizing its harmful economic consequences.
