Global markets surge as US-Iran peace deal slashes oil prices
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8 days · 11 summary articles
Global stock markets surged on Monday after the United States and Iran finalised a historic peace accord to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing geopolitical tensions that had roiled energy markets for years. The agreement, signed in Doha on 14 June 2026, triggered a broad-based rally across equities, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at a record high, European benchmarks breaking multi-year peaks, and Asian indices following suit. Oil prices fell sharply, pushing retail fuel costs lower in Portugal and Norway, where the Oslo bourse lost 130 billion Swedish kronor in market value overnight .
The S&P 500 added 2.1% to finish at 5,845.32, surpassing its previous record set in April 2025, while the Dow closed at 41,203.67, up 1.8%. European markets mirrored the optimism: Spain’s Ibex 35 vaulted 1.43% to 19,032 points, its first close above 19,000, led by banks and tourism stocks . In Athens, the general index hit a 17-year high, with Alpha Bank and Piraeus Financial Group both posting five-year peaks as investor confidence rebounded .
The thaw in relations also buoyed corporate dealmaking. SpaceX’s long-awaited initial public offering, priced late last week, began trading on Monday with strong demand, further amplifying risk appetite . Meanwhile, UK engineering giant Rolls-Royce secured a £1.2 billion contract to supply small modular reactors to Sweden, beating GE Vernova and Hitachi for the third major SMR order this year .
Against this backdrop, Nvidia launched a $25 billion bond sale—the largest corporate debt offering since 2021—testing investor appetite for additional exposure to the AI sector amid a wave of new issuance . The chipmaker’s move underscores continued corporate borrowing despite the recent market volatility. Elsewhere, French telecoms group Orange raised €850 million through hybrid notes, signalling sustained access to capital markets .
Analysts cautioned that the rally’s durability hinges on Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting, where policymakers are expected to signal caution on inflation despite the geopolitical détente . For now, however, the US-Iran accord has rewritten the calculus for global investors, turning a long-standing flashpoint into a catalyst for risk-on sentiment.
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