DISCLAIMER: GoldInvestors.news is not a registered investment, legal or tax advisor or broker/dealer. All investment/financial opinions expressed by GoldInvestors.news are from the personal research and experience of the owner of the site and are intended as educational material. Although best efforts are made to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date, occasionally unintended errors and misprints may occur.

Stocks climbed on Thursday as investors celebrated a surprise peace deal between the United States and Iran and turned their attention to the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.

The optimism sent the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq higher, led by tech stocks, while oil prices slipped sharply following the announcement of the agreement.

President Trump and Iranian officials signed the memorandum of understanding a day earlier than expected, setting in motion plans to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

The development instantly calmed global energy markets and coincided with mild relief for consumers as average gasoline prices dropped nationwide.

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Brent crude futures fell as much as 3 percent before paring losses to around 78 dollars a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate hovered near 74 dollars. The decline in energy prices provided a tailwind for equities, particularly sectors most sensitive to fuel costs such as airlines and logistics.

At the same time, the Federal Reserve’s latest decision to hold interest rates steady did little to dent risk appetite, despite signals that a policy hike could still arrive later this year.

Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, in his first press conference, emphasized the central bank’s limited control over commodity prices but reaffirmed its commitment to keep inflation contained over the long term.

The market’s relief over geopolitical tensions overshadowed the Fed’s cautious tone. Investors took comfort in the idea that peace in the Middle East could cool global inflation pressures, giving policymakers room to remain patient rather than rushing toward further tightening.

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Economic data released Thursday showed continued resilience in the labor market. Weekly jobless claims fell to 226,000, a mild improvement from the prior week, while continuing claims edged higher but remained within historically normal ranges.

Analysts interpreted the data as evidence of a steady employment picture rather than a red flag on economic weakness.

In another boost to investor sentiment, President Trump announced that Apple had agreed to partner with Intel to design and manufacture advanced chips in the United States. Intel’s shares surged 9 percent following the news, marking a new post-IPO record.

“We need to build our chips right here in America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, underscoring his administration’s aggressive push for technological and manufacturing independence.

The tie-up with Apple positions Intel to regain ground in the semiconductor market, where it has long lagged Taiwan’s TSMC. The deal also signals Washington’s renewed focus on rebuilding domestic capabilities in critical industries like energy, defense, and high technology.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England joined the Fed and several other major central banks in holding rates unchanged this week. Citing potential easing in global energy costs since the Iran peace deal, the BOE noted that inflationary pressures could moderate without additional tightening.

Central banks across Europe and Asia, however, remain mixed in their policy stances, with some still moving to restrict credit in the wake of the recent oil shock.

Asian markets mirrored Wall Street’s enthusiasm. Japan’s Nikkei 225 hit another record high, soaring above 71,000, while South Korea’s Kospi and Taiwan’s Taiex notched fresh gains. Only Hong Kong and Australia bucked the trend with modest losses as traders rotated out of financials and into high-tech names linked to artificial intelligence.

Gold prices inched higher despite the dollar’s retreat, climbing 1.6 percent to trade above 4,300 dollars per ounce. Silver, platinum, and palladium also advanced as investors sought hedges against uncertainty over central bank policy.

Analysts noted that the peace deal had removed one layer of geopolitical risk but left lingering questions about the inflationary impact of sustained energy demand.

Flows into thematic exchange-traded funds continued to surge, particularly in sectors tied to space exploration, nuclear power, quantum computing, and robotics. Analysts at Strategas ETF Research likened the current investment wave to the frenzy of 2020, although leadership has shifted from app-driven growth stocks to heavy-industry and hard-tech plays led by SpaceX and its peers.

Across financial markets, the mood was clearly optimistic but measured. Traders welcomed signs of stability overseas and a cautious Fed at home, betting that a peaceful Middle East and a slow-but-steady U.S. economy could keep the bull market alive into the summer.

As one veteran trader noted, “This is the calm investors have been waiting for—at least until the Fed decides to speak louder.”

DISCLAIMER: GoldInvestors.news is not a registered investment, legal or tax advisor or broker/dealer. All investment/financial opinions expressed by GoldInvestors.news are from the personal research and experience of the owner of the site and are intended as educational material. Although best efforts are made to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date, occasionally unintended errors and misprints may occur.