U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Iran Reviews U.S. Ceasefire Proposal 
Asian Stocks Gain Amid Iran Conflict Uncertainty 
U.S. Oil Prices Slide as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Spark Market Optimism 
Asian Currencies Stay Muted as Dollar Holds Firm Amid Iran Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar Rebounds Amid Middle East Uncertainty and Japan Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks, Middle East Tensions Persist 
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Living Costs 
Gold Prices Climb as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Stir Market Optimism 
Gold Prices Surge on U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Reports 
Japan's Private Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Costs and Middle East Uncertainty 
U.S. Futures Slide as Iran Denies Nuclear Talks with Washington 
Iran-Israel Missile Strikes Continue Amid Mixed Signals on U.S.-Iran Diplomacy 
Australia's Inflation Eases in February but Core Pressures Persist 
WTO Reform Talks Begin in Cameroon Amid Global Trade Tensions 
U.S. Dollar Weakens as Trump Signals Iran Deal Possibility 
European equity markets remained largely flat Wednesday as investors digested fresh corporate earnings and inflation data. Germany’s DAX rose 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 held steady, and the UK’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.1%.
Markets have stabilized following renewed optimism over a temporary U.S.-China trade truce, which helped recover losses triggered by tariff concerns. Volatility has decreased as attention shifts to earnings reports and macroeconomic indicators.
German inflation slowed to 2.2% in April, down from 2.3% in March, supporting expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will continue its rate-cutting cycle. ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau signaled in an interview that further easing is likely by summer, noting that Europe is unlikely to face U.S.-style inflation pressure stemming from Trump-era tariffs.
In corporate news, Burberry posted stronger-than-expected Q4 sales and full-year adjusted operating profit. German energy firm E.ON reported an 18% jump in Q1 adjusted EBITDA, while Spain’s Ferrovial saw core earnings rise 19%, fueled by U.S. toll highway operations. Danish pharmaceutical firm Lundbeck raised its full-year guidance after a 16% revenue increase. French train maker Alstom projected improved margins for 2025/26 after exceeding cash flow expectations.
However, Spanish telecom Telefonica posted a Q1 net loss after write-downs in Latin America.
Meanwhile, oil prices retreated slightly from recent highs. Brent crude dropped 0.5% to $66.32 and WTI slipped 0.5% to $63.38, after API data showed a 4.3 million barrel increase in U.S. crude inventories last week. This raised concerns about sluggish demand despite a temporary easing in global trade tensions. Official U.S. Energy Information Administration data, due later, will offer further insight into the supply-demand balance.
