Business
US markets today: Wall Street drifts near record highs as Big Tech results; Trump-Xi trade talks pull investors in both directions – The Times of India
US markets ended mixed on Thursday, with investors juggling upbeat and cautious signals from Big Tech earnings and renewed optimism around US-China trade ties.The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% from its all-time high earlier this week, while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, gained 199 points, or 0.5%, by mid-morning trade, AP reported.Markets were reacting to comments from US President Donald Trump, who called his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping a “12 out of 10” and announced plans to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods. Analysts, however, warned that despite the warm rhetoric, structural trade tensions remain unresolved.“The result was fine, but fine isn’t good enough given the expectations going in,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “The results were more like small gestures instead of a grand bargain.”Big Tech weighs on sentimentTech stocks saw sharp divergences after earnings. Meta Platforms tumbled 11.3%, wiping off part of its 28% gain this year, as investors reacted to higher spending plans for 2026. Microsoft fell 2.5% despite reporting stronger quarterly earnings and revenue, with concerns about slower Azure growth and rising investment costs.Alphabet bucked the trend, rising 5.3% after reporting better-than-expected profit and revenue. Together, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft make up nearly 14.5% of the S&P 500’s total market value — meaning their moves can swing the broader market.Broader movers and macro watchChipotle Mexican Grill slumped 18% after trimming its sales growth forecast, citing “persistent macroeconomic pressures.” In contrast, Eli Lilly rose 1.7% as strong sales of its diabetes and obesity drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound boosted profits, prompting an upward revision to its annual guidance.Sherwin-Williams gained 2% after beating profit estimates despite a “softer for longer” demand outlook, while Visa advanced 1.5% on stronger-than-expected results.Fed caution lifts bond yieldsThe 10-year US Treasury yield rose to 4.09% from 4.08% the day before, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said a December rate cut “is not a foregone conclusion.” Traders still expect a rate reduction later this year, but with less certainty, according to CME Group data.In Europe, France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.9% and Germany’s DAX shed 0.2% after the European Central Bank held rates steady. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed nearly flat after the Bank of Japan also kept its policy unchanged
A mothballed carbon dioxide plant is to be reopened with a Government grant of up to £100 million amid fears of shortages caused by the Iran war.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle signed off the grant to reopen the Ensus plant on Teesside, according to the Financial Times.
It is understood the grant will pay to get the plant up and running again for an initial three-month period.
The plant was mothballed last year after a trade deal with the US cut tariffs on bioethanol, its main product.
It will be reopened due to its ability to produce CO2 as a by-product. The gas is vital for several sectors, including drinks and the nuclear industry, but supply has been disrupted thanks to soaring energy costs on other sources such as fertiliser factories.
The grant for the Ensus plant is the first major intervention by the UK Government aimed at tackling possible shortages caused by the Iran conflict.
But fears range much wider than CO2, with former BP executive Nick Butler telling Times Radio the UK could face oil and gas shortages in two to three weeks.
He said: “There will be shortages and I think the Government now should be seriously planning how they’re going to handle that and part of that is maximising supply.”
On Tuesday, Shell chief executive Wael Sawan issued a similar warning at an industry conference.
Ministers continue to insist the supply of petrol remains reliable.
Energy minister Michael Shanks told MPs on Wednesday the Government was “absolutely not” planning for blackouts or petrol rationing, insisting the UK had a “strong and diverse range of supplies”.
The key question remains how long Iran’s effective blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz will last.
On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will urge Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as she travels to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in France.
She will make clear that the UK will help ensure safe passage for ships through the strait and provide an additional £2m in humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
Ms Cooper is expected to hold talks with counterparts, including US secretary of state Marco Rubio, France’s Jean-Noel Barrot, and Germany’s Johann Wadephul.
The strait remained closed on Wednesday evening, despite Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claiming it was open to “non-hostile” shipping.
The conflict continued with Washington saying it would hit Iran “harder” if Tehran refused to accept it had been “defeated militarily”.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted “productive” talks were continuing between Washington and Tehran.
But Mr Araghchi said in a message on his Telegram channel, translated from Farsi, that there had been “no negotiations or discussions with the American side” and suggested the US had effectively admitted defeat.
He said: “Didn’t they talk about ‘unconditional surrender’ before? What happened now that they are talking about negotiations and calling for them?
“I will explain that there are no negotiations, but the fact that they are mobilising their highest officials to negotiate with the Islamic Republic indicates their acceptance of defeat.”
new video loaded: How Kharg Island May Change the Trajectory of the Iran War
By Peter Eavis, Gilad Thaler, Edward Vega, Lauren Pruitt and Joey Sendaydiego
March 25, 2026
Crude rose back above $100 a barrel as the US and Iran clashed over bringing the conflict to an end.
Source link
Man United’s big night was disappointing, but not their spirit
Government grant to reopen CO2 plant amid fears of Iran-linked shortages
Trump to visit China in May after Iran war delay
-
Fashion1 week agoSales at US apparel, clothing accessories stores up 4% YoY in Jan 2026
-
Tech1 week agoJustice Department Says Anthropic Can’t Be Trusted With Warfighting Systems
-
Entertainment1 week agoVal Kilmer revived 1 year after death through AI
-
Business1 week agoStocks and pound rise as US rate call approaches
-
Sports1 week agoMarch Madness 2026 – How to watch in SA, start time, schedule, TV channel for NCAA championship basketball tournament
-
Politics1 week agoIran strikes Tel Aviv with cluster-warhead missiles in retaliation of Larijani’s martyrdom
-
Fashion1 week agoSpain’s Inditex FY25 sales rise 3.2% to $46.28 bn amid strong demand
-
Business1 week agoBrits cashing in jewellery as gold price hits record high