Daily Market Report – April 1, 2026

(14:30 ET) The trigger for rising prices in global stock markets today was new statements from Donald Trump, indicating that the U.S. could end its military activities in Iran "within two to three weeks" – even without a formal deal. The S&P 500 (SP:SPX) rose by about 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ:IXIC) increased by up to 1.5%. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 (INDEX:STOXX) jumped by over 2%, and the DAX (XETR:DAX) also saw a noticeable increase. The reason is clear: as soon as the market expects a lower probability of a lasting energy shock, concerns about inflation, interest rates, and recession simultaneously ease.

Brent (TVC:UKOIL) fell by more than 2% to around $102. At the same time, the dollar index (TVC:DXY) declined, while European government bonds were in demand and yields decreased. Gold continued to rise, approaching around $4,750 per ounce.

Technology heavyweights and semiconductor stocks led the recovery today. Notably, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) saw an increase of around 9-10%, supported by company-specific news about a strategic transaction (buyback of a stake) and further boosted by a general rotation back into cyclical technology stocks. At the same time, other major tech titles also rose significantly, while energy stocks suffered from the falling oil price. The market is awaiting the speech from the U.S. President. He will praise the military successes of the U.S. and his policies, criticize NATO, and suggest a swift end to the war. Anything else would be a surprise for the nervous financial markets.