Daily News
Markets Rebound as Diplomatic Re-engagement Tempers Global Conflict Fears
14 April 2026
Today in Brief
Equities staged a significant recovery as both U.S. and Iranian leaders signaled a renewed willingness to negotiate, leading to a retreat in oil prices and gains across software and gaming sectors.
In corporate headlines, Amazon moves closer to a satellite acquisition to challenge Starlink, while United Airlines explores a massive potential merger with American Airlines.
Asia markets open mostly higher amid hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal; China exports miss estimates
Asia-Pacific markets opened mostly higher Tuesday, amid hopes that a deal between Washington and Tehran was still possible even as the U.S. blockades Iranian shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire, while not officially scrapped, has been deeply frayed, with the U.S. and Iran accusing each other of violating the conditions of the truce. The U.S. on Monday said it began blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, as it seeks to raise pressure on Iran to reopen the key oil route, following the collapse of peace talks. The blockade took effect at 10 a.m. ET. Iranian officials responded by warning that the U.S. blockade will only drive global energy prices higher.
Stocks stage a big comeback Monday with the S&P 500 wiping out Iran war losses
The S&P 500 rose on Monday as investors hoped that a deal would eventually be struck between the U.S. and Iran. The broad market index jumped 1.02% to end at 6,886.24, the highest close since before the war began. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.23% to 23,183.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 301.68 points, or 0.63%, to settle at 48,218.25. The 30-stock index came back from a decline of more than 400 points, or about 0.9%, earlier in the session. The S&P 500 was down 0.4% at its session low, while the Nasdaq had fallen 0.5%.
Gold climbed to around $4,760 per ounce on Tuesday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses
Gold climbed to around $4,760 per ounce on Tuesday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses as the US and Iran signalled willingness to resume negotiations aimed at securing a longer-term ceasefire before the current two-week truce lapses. President Donald Trump said Tehran had reached out to Washington just hours after the US initiated a naval blockade on Iranian oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also indicated readiness to continue peace discussions, provided they remain within the framework of international law and regulations. Oil prices retreated on hopes for a potential longer-term deal, easing inflationary concerns and tempering expectations that central banks will keep interest rates on hold or even hike them.
WTI crude futures dropped more than 2% to below $97 per barrel on Tuesday, reversing gains from the previous session
WTI crude futures dropped more than 2% to below $97 per barrel on Tuesday, reversing gains from the previous session as reports indicated that the US and Iran are considering further negotiations aimed at securing a longer-term ceasefire before the current two-week truce expires. President Donald Trump stated that Tehran had initiated contact with Washington, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signalled readiness to pursue continued dialogue, provided it remains within the bounds of international law and regulations. Both sides failed to reach a deal after 21 hours of negotiations over the weekend, prompting President Trump to announce a blockade on Iranian oil shipments.
Vance says ‘the ball is in Iran’s court’ to move peace talks further, as U.S. blockade takes effect
Vice President JD Vance, after returning from unsuccessful negotiations with Iran over the weekend, said Monday that it is up to the Islamic Republic to make the next move on peace talks with the U.S. “Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table,” Vance said in a Fox News interview. He stressed that if America’s “red lines” on Iran’s nuclear ambitions are met, “then this can be a very, very good deal for both countries.” The remarks came hours after the U.S. started blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, in what President Donald Trump says is an attempt to pressure Tehran’s leaders back to the negotiating table.
China exports growth in March misses estimates, imports surge most in over four years
China’s export growth declined to a six-month low in March as the Middle East conflict hit global demand outlook, while imports logged their strongest growth in more than four years. Exports rose at 2.5% in U.S. dollar terms last month from a year earlier, China customs data showed Wednesday, missing Reuters-polled analysts’ median estimate for an 8.6% growth, and weakening from the combined 21.8% surge in the first two months of the year. Imports surged 27.8% in March from a year ago, marking the strongest growth since November 2021, sharply beating expectations for a 11.2% rise, and accelerating from 19.8% in the prior two months combined.
Singapore central bank tightens monetary policy as Iran war stokes price risks
Singapore’s central bank tightened its monetary policy settings on Tuesday, flagging the risk that an Iran war-fuelled energy shock could push up core inflation even as mounting pressure on growth was underscored by a first-quarter economic contraction. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it would increase slightly the rate of appreciation of the S$NEER policy band, in line with what most analysts polled by Reuters had expected. MAS said there would be no change to its width and the level at which it is centred. “GDP growth in the Singapore economy will slow over the course of this year, while the output gap should average around 0%. Singapore’s imported energy costs have already risen. Prices of a wider range of imported goods and services are expected to increase in the quarters ahead,” the MAS said.
Trump threatens 50% tariffs on China as report suggests plans for arms shipment to Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to impose a 50% tariff on China, after a report emerged that Beijing was preparing to deliver a shipment of new air defense systems to Iran. “I hear news reports about China giving [Iran] the shoulder missiles... what’s called the shoulder missile, anti-aircraft missile. I doubt they would do that... but if we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff, which is a staggering — that’s a staggering amount,” Trump said, in response to a question on whether a previous threat of tariffs on countries found supplying military equipment to Iran would also apply to China. Trump’s comments, made in a televised phone call with Fox News, came as CNN, citing insiders, reported on the same day that U.S. intelligence assessments suggested an impending Chinese shipment of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) — a shoulder-operated, surface-to-air missile platform — to Iran.
Oracle pops nearly 13%, leading bounce back rally in software stocks
Oracle’s stock surged nearly 13% as software shares, beaten down by artificial intelligence disruption fears, clawed back some year-to-date losses. Shares posted their best day since September. Adobe jumped more than 6%, while Salesforce rallied 5%. ServiceNow, HubSpot, and Workday rallied about 7% each. Cybersecurity stocks also gained, with Tenable and SentinelOne each adding more than 7%. CrowdStrike rose 6%. The rally came as investors saw hope in a future peace deal between Iran and the U.S. Software stocks hit selloff mode this year on concerns that new AI tools from the likes of Anthropic and OpenAI will displace their longstanding business models. Fears of new cyber risks have also pressured cybersecurity companies.
Roblox stock rises 5% on new age-based parental controls
Roblox shares rose 5% Monday following the company’s announcement of two new age-based accounts with expanded parental controls. The gaming platform introduced Roblox Kids for users ages 5 to 8 and Roblox Select for users ages 9 to 15, set to roll out in early June. The accounts will align content access, communication settings, and parental controls with user age. Roblox Kids accounts will limit access to games with Minimal or Mild content maturity labels that pass a three-step selection process, with all communication disabled by default. Roblox Select accounts will restrict access to games with content maturity labels up to and including Moderate, while maintaining unchanged default communication settings for ages 9 to 15.
Amazon nears deal for Globalstar to rival SpaceX’s Starlink
Amazon.com Inc is in advanced talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar Inc in a bid to rival SpaceX’s Starlink, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. A transaction could be announced as soon as Tuesday, Bloomberg reported. The Bloomberg report follows a Financial Times report from earlier this month over Amazon nearing a deal for Globalstar, as the e-commerce giant seeks to build out its own low Earth orbit satellite business and compete with Starlink. A major complicating factor in the deal is Apple Inc’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which will require Amazon to negotiate directly with the iPhone maker. Apple invested $1.5 billion in Globalstar in 2024. Globalstar shares are up 273% in the past 12 months, with the company seen attracting takeover interest over its potential to compete with Starlink.
United CEO Kirby raised potential tie-up with American in Trump meeting
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby raised the potential of merging with American Airlines in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in late February, two sources told Reuters. United declined to comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kirby’s comments came at the end of a scheduled White House meeting on the future of Dulles airport, the sources added. United Airlines and American Air are the second and fourth-largest U.S. airlines by market capitalization, with any potential merger standing to create the country’s biggest carrier, above Delta Airlines. The two also have the largest fleets among U.S. airlines with more than 1,000 aircraft each. The Bloomberg report noted that such a merger would likely face intense scrutiny over its competition effects, even under the business-friendly Trump administration. American shares jumped 4.5% after the bell, while United added 1.1%.
