Squawk Box Europe Express

Europe and Wall Street notch their best quarter since 2020 with tech and A.I. stocks leading the gains. The energy sector continues to suffer amid Middle East uncertainty. The euro zone’s largest economies see June inflation slowing but Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey tells CNBC he is frustrated the conflict with Iran is still keeping prices high. We are live at the ECB Forum in Sintra hosting a headline panel. New Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is due to speak as well. U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrive in Doha for negotiations but direct talks with Iran remain off the agenda for now. Meanwhile, Tehran says it is selling oil with a 20 per cent mark-up following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live at the Sintra Forum where ECB President Christine Lagarde has backed the central bank’s decision to hike rates in June as necessary to rein in inflation. However, Lagarde insists ‘unconventional instruments’ are no longer needed since the last inflation shock. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump does not currently have the power to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud but could be granted them in the future. The U.S. and Iran present mixed messages ahead of peace talks in Doha. President Trump has reiterated his claim that the war has been won.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S.-Iran peace deal falters over the weekend but a U.S. official tells CNBC hostilities have abated with talks set to resume in Doha tomorrow. European and U.S. futures are up on de-escalation hopes but crude prices hover around the $70 per barrel mark. In autos news, Volkswagen announces it will cut 100,000 jobs. We hear from the CEO of Germany’s state-owned bank KfW Stefan Wintels who says the country is undergoing an industrial transformation. And in the UK, prime minister-designate Andy Burnham is to outline his economic outlook in Manchester today with devolution and a restructuring of Westminster to be top of the agenda.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European equities end the week as Asian markets continue to sell off sharply. Apple and Microsoft announce price rises as the A.I. race constrains chip supplies and prompts concern over higher inflation. The UN’s International Maritime Organisation suspends vessel escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a container ship in the Gulf of Oman. U.S. officials have blamed Iran as the peace deal comes under early pressure. Following the resignation of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, we hear from UK opposition party leaders who cast doubt on whether a potential Burnham-led government can turn around the country’s economic fortunes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Equities in Asia are boosted by the chip sector through positive earnings from Micron and SK Hynix’s announcement it plans a $30bn listing on the Nasdaq. Brent dips to levels last seen before the conflict in the Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Futures indicate the world may soon be facing an oil glut. UK Prime Minister in waiting Andy Burnham is reportedly planning an overhaul of No.10 and the Treasury as part of his economic reform agenda. He is also seeking to overhaul the Bank of England’s mandate to push more demand on growth.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The global tech sell-off continues with U.S. memory and A.I. related companies firmly in the red as investors reassess the A.I. boom. Micron is set to deliver its results later today. Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to its highest level since the start of the conflict in late February and U.S. President Donald Trump accuses oil companies of not lowering gas pump prices in line with falling crude. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lands in the UAE to reassure Arab allies since the Iran deal signing. Bank of America forecasts a triple hike from the Federal Reserve this year – up from its previous guidance of no hikes in 2026. It has slammed the central bank of its ‘unambiguously worse’ problem with inflation.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Britain will have a seventh prime minister in a decade following yesterday’s resignation by Sir Keir Starmer. Newly elected Makerfield MP Andy Burnham could be handed the keys to No.10 in less than a month time should no challenger step forward. SpaceX sheds almost half a trillion dollars of its market cap in Monday’s session with further sell-offs seen among other tech mega-caps. South Korea’s KOSPI triggers circuit breakers during the Asian session with Wall Street braced for more tech losses today. U.S. Vice President JD Vance hails peace talks with Iran in Switzerland as Washington waives sanctions on Iranian oil exports for 60 days. However, Tehran disputes claims it will be providing international nuclear inspectors access to its operations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran conclude in Switzerland for the time being with an agreement to reach a final deal within 60 days. The talks had been hampered by President Trump’s renewed threats to strike Iran and Tehran’s resealing of the Strait of Hormuz. Crude prices tumble following Iran’s announcement it would be resuming oil and petrochemical exports. Asian equities bounce on the news, led by Japan’s Nikkei index. Under-pressure UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could announce his resignation as early as today with increasing numbers of Labour MPs calling for him to quit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election, returning him to Parliament and setting up a leadership challenge against U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In geopolitics, U.S.-Iran talks today are called off after U.S. Vice President JD Vance cancels his trip to Switzerland, as the administration hits back at criticism of the deal from both sides of the aisle. Meanwhile, OPEC welcomes an interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran, pushing back on forecasts of a supply glut following the conflict. Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais tells CNBC exclusively that OPEC still has the power to manage the market.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and Iran both sign their MOU for their peace framework. Crude prices tumble with hopes growing that the Strait of Hormuz will now re-open. President Trump warns the U.S. will reserve the right to retaliate should Tehran violate the deal. The Federal Reserve holds rates steady during Kevin Warsh’s first decision as chairman of the central bank, but officials say hikes loom later in the year. Warsh said his key concern is to bring inflation back to its 2 per cent target. The CEOs of Anthropic, Google and DeepMind have led calls for a U.S.-led AI coalition for the sector. Tech executives and world leaders have convened at the G7 summit in Evian, France where French President Emmanuel Macron warned against nationalistic policies within the sector.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More details of the U.S.-Iran peace agreement framework have been revealed with reports of a $300bn investment fund for Tehran along with renewed export capacities. We are live at the G7 summit in Evian, France where President Trump has said the deal also guaranteed Iran would no longer possess nuclear armament capabilities. A.I. and security are also in focus at the G7 with various top tech executives due to attend amid the fallout from the White House’s export control of Anthropic’s latest model. We are also live at the Vivatech conference in Paris where A.I. access and strategic autonomy will dominate the agenda. In the U.S., the Fed awaits its first decision under new chairman Kevin Warsh with the future of forward guidance crucial to the central bank.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the G7 summit in Evian, France, touting a win via the signing of a peace framework with Iran. The deal extends the ceasefire by 60 days and re-opens the Strait of Hormuz. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy is also at the summit and is due to meet leaders with EU membership discussions on the agenda. The BoJ lifts its benchmark interest rate to 1 per cent – its highest level in 30 years – seeking to normalise monetary policy and bring down inflation. Wall Street is in the green following news of the Middle East peace agreement. The Nasdaq surged 3 per cent on Monday while SpaceX shares clock a further 20 per cent in growth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and Iran agree to a plan to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations about Iran’s nuclear capabilities will be discussed over the next 60 days. Crude prices fall back towards the $80-mark as President Trump declares ‘let the oil flow’. Asian equities move firmly into the green with European and U.S. futures also set to move higher. The U.S. moves to limit access to Anthropic’s most advanced models, prompting the company to restrict access altogether. President Trump heads to the G7 summit in Evian urging France to abandon its tech tax or face a 100 per cent tariff on wine exports.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global investors eagerly anticipate today’s SpaceX IPO – the biggest in history – with the company raising $75bn ahead of listing. President Trump postpones strikes on Iran, saying a peace agreement could be signed as early as this weekend. Tehran has responded that a deal has not been finalised despite Trump’s claims it has the Ayatollah’s backing. Renewed talk of peace in the Gulf sparks a tech-driven market rally in Asia with the KOSPI moving into the green by more than 8 per cent. European equities are set to follow suit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and Iran exchange fire for a second night with Iran targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf, vowing to target any vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has voiced frustration over stalling peace negotiations. Wall Street closes in the red as investors fret over A.I. valuations, tech and surging inflation. Asian equities and European futures have followed suit. A rate hike from the ECB is anticipated later today – its first in almost three years – laying bare the impact of the conflict in the Gulf in new growth and inflation forecasts. And in luxury news, Frasers Group launches a takeover bid for Hugo Boss. It plans to buy up the remaining three quarters of the company it doesn’t already own at a price of €38 a share.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and Iran exchange fire following the downing of an American Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claims to have targeted U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain as a result. Asian markets see the tech sell-off gathering pace with trade on South Korea’s KOSPI briefly pausing. The negative sentiment has infected European and American markets, which are due to start the day in the red. SpaceX is due to close its order book today ahead of Friday’s greatly anticipated and historic IPO. The company is reportedly up to 4 times over-subscribed.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OpenAI decides to confidentially file to list with a reported target valuation of $1tn. Perplexity CEO Arvand Srinivas tells CNBC he hopes to take his company public in the medium term and that the success of larger companies will benefit his firm’s own growth. Israel and Iran announce they are halting attacks but leave the door open to a resumption in hostilities with President Trump sounding a positive tine about ongoing peace negotiations with Tehran.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel and Iran have exchanged fire for the first time since April which pushes oil futures higher and potentially jeopardizing a peace agreement. The A.I. sell-off on Friday continues into the new week with South Korea’s KOSPI tripping circuit breakers. A stellar U.S. jobs print raises the chance of a rate hike but President Trump remains committed to lowering interest rates. In Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo is looking to hijack a likely tie-up between BPM and Monte dei Paschi, tabling an offer for all BMPS shares.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bankers tap the extraordinary valuation of SpaceX ahead of its listing next week. Goldman Sachs has reportedly forecast a 100-fold revenue increase by 2030 for the company. However, S&P Dow Jones Indices has ruled out a fast-track to the S&P 500, diverging from rivals Nasdaq. The AI rally stutters with the Nasdaq suffering a second day of losses while in Asia, the KOSPI nosedives. The head of OpenAI For Countries and former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tells CNBC he’s bullish on the ‘exponential’ demand for the A.I. sector. Hezbollah rejects the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon while President Trump floats the possibility of a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei should a peace agreement be reached between the Washington and Tehran.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SpaceX eyes a valuation of almost $1.8tn at its listing next week. It has marketed more than half a billion shares at $135 which will make it the largest IPO of all time. The U.S. equity markets end a five-day winning streak with oil falling back. Renewed tensions in the Gulf come as negotiators attempt to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu tells CNBC that Lebanon must be demilitarized to ensure a lasting peace. Disappointing revenue forecasts from U.S. chip designer Broadcom sees investors sell off aggressively. Its market valuation shed $300m to put it on course for one of the biggest single-day wipeouts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SpaceX is reportedly planning a float share price of $135, eyeing around a $75bn IPO raise. However, Morningstar analysts believe the figure is hugely overpriced while Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon tells our colleagues Stateside he believes that markets are living in a moment of ‘greed’. The U.S. proposes fresh tariffs on up to 60 countries it believes have failed to ban imports made with forced labour. Both the EU and China feature on the list. And in retail news, Zara owner Inditex has confirmed its guidance, reassuring investors that it can continue its strong start to the summer season amid cost-of-living pressures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthropic is joining the A.I. IPO race, filing confidentially following last week’s latest funding session revealed the company being valued at close to $1tn. However, Open AI’s Sam Altman tells CNBC he is not rushing to list his company. We speak exclusively to Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son who says the A.I. revolution is the biggest mankind has ever experienced. President Trump tells CNB he is unfazed whether peace talks with Iran are over and expresses frustration with the lack of progress in ‘boring’ negotiations. Trump said Israeli troops are retreating home from Lebanon following a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel invests a further $10bn into Alphabet after the tech giant raised $80bn for its AI infrastructure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live in Paris where Japan’s Softbank has pledged up to €75bn for Europe’s largest A.I. data centre project. Asian chip stocks are in the green as investors eye potential meetings with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the Computex trade show in Taipei. Brent crude inches higher on the news Israeli forces push deeper into Lebanon. France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. U.S. Central Command says it hit targets in Iran over the weekend but hopes remain that a ceasefire deal can be reached between the Washington and Tehran.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil dips after a White House official says the U.S. and Iran are close to a temporary peace agreement. Vice President JD Vance says he feels ‘pretty good’ about how negotiations are progressing. Today’s fall in crude prices are close to 20 per cent on the month. Equities in the U.S. have ended a stellar month of May while European markets lag behind. A.I. giant Anthropic builds up its latest round of funding by almost 200 per cent, bringing its market value to just short of $1tn to overtake OpenAI and become the most valuable A.I. start-up on the planet. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin suffers a major setback in its bid to compete with SpaceX as a test rocket explodes into a gigantic fireball on lift-off.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil prices whipsaw with Brent up almost 3 per cent following an Iranian missile and drone attack on a U.S. air base in Kuwait. The strikes were followed by the U.S. targeting of a ground control station in Bandar-e-Abbas just hours after optimistic peace talks comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had pushed crude lower. Federal Reserve governors Neel Kashkari and Austan Goolsbee warn CNBC rising inflation and price pressures are not easing. Global equity markets fall into the red again following yesterday's record session on Wall Street. The EU is reportedly looking to decrease its dependency on American technology and champion European companies. Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch tells CNBC he welcomes the bloc’s direction.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SK Hynix becomes the latest company to be valued at $1tn due to investor enthusiasm for A.I.-linked semi-conductor stocks. Iran accuses the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire with President Trump set to hold a cabinet meeting with high-stake peace negotiations ongoing. New car registrations in the EU surge 5.1 per cent with high fuel costs prompting renewed interest in EVs. However, Ferrari share plummet as its first EV offering, the Luce, is widely criticized. BP ousts its chairman Albert Manifold after less than a year in the position amid concerns over his conduct, governing standards and oversight.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S.-Iran peace talks remain undecided, keeping oil markets volatile. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is positive a good deal will be reached but settling all details will require more time. The UK market returns after the spring bank holiday while in Europe the Stoxx 600 hits its highest level in more than two months, clawing back losses since the start of the Gulf conflict. Ferrari launches its first ever EV, the Luce, which is co-designed by former Apple CDO Jony Ive. We speak to CEO Benedetto Vigna who says the move is a daring new direction for the Prancing Horse.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European equities look set to enjoy a day in the green following the Dow’s record close yesterday. Bond yields also dip slightly after a volatile week. Crude prices inch up as Washington D.C. and Tehran remain at loggerheads over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio slams reported suggestions of a permanent Iranian toll system in the Gulf which would make any diplomatic agreement ‘unfeasible’. Luxury cosmetics giant Estée Lauder sees shares surge in after-hours trade after merger talks with Puig collapse. The tie-up would have created a $40bn beauty titan. And the White House hits pause on an EO on A.I. as President Trump said certain aspects of the plan could hamper American leadership in the sector.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nvidia notches another stellar quarter with revenue soaring by 85 per cent to more than $80bn. The chip giant has also announced the same amount in share buy-backs. CEO Jensen Huang tells our colleagues Stateside that demand in the new era of A.I. is ‘sky-high’. SpaceX files its prospectus ahead of what will be the biggest listing of all time on Wall Street. The company is eyeing future data centres to be built in space and a million-resident colony on Mars. In further IPO news, OpenAI is also reportedly aiming at a listing as soon as next week in what could be a trillion-dollar offering. Stakeholder Softbank sees shares soar in the Asian session as a result.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fixed income continues to sell off across Europe which focuses investors’ minds on UK April inflation. Crude prices slip on news that several tankers were able to exit the Strait of Hormuz. There are mixed messages from Washington with U.S. President Trump warning of renewed strikes on Iran but Vice-President JD Vance claiming progress was being made in talks with Tehran. In tech news, Google unveils its latest A.I. model in a bid to keep pace with competitors but today’s attention turns to Nvidia which is expected to post a near-80 per cent boost in revenues when it reports after the bell today.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live in Paris at the G7 finance ministers’ meeting where European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis tells us that Europe is facing a stagflationary shock amid the energy crisis while French finance minister Roland Lescure says lawmakers need to work to reassure bond markets. Crude prices fall slightly after U.S. President Trump says he postponed fresh strikes on Iran, citing diplomatic progress on ending the conflict with Iran. Elon Musk loses his case against OpenAI after jurors ruled the Tesla CEO had filed his suit too late to proceed. Musk had claimed the ChatGPT maker had violated an agreement to only run the AI start-up as a charitable non-profit organisation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bond markets around the world spike with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield hitting its highest level in 15 months as inflation concerns persist. We are live in Paris where G7 finance ministers and central bank governors are meeting with the global sell-off set to dominate discussions. Crude oil prices rise once again after U.S. President Donald Trump warns Iran ‘the clock is ticking’ over peace talks. We speak to Ryanair CFO Neil Sorahan who says that despite rising jet fuel costs the airline is well placed to avoid any dramatic summer travel scenarios.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump and President Xi conclude their two-day summit in Beijing with U.S. officials touting deals aimed at maintaining the two nations’ trade truce. In the UK, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham sets his sights on No.10 after the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Sterling suffers its biggest drop in more than 3 months with gilts also set for losses. U.S. deep-learning A.I. company Cerebras shares soar on its Wall Street debut which launches a slew of A.I. companies’ IPOs due later this year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese President Xi welcomes U.S. President Trump to an eagerly anticipated summit in Beijing with both leaders hailing a new chapter in bilateral relations for the world’s two largest economies. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly planning to resign from his post and trigger a leadership contest against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as soon as this morning. Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch attacked the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis following yesterday’s King’s speech. In Washington D.C., the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment of Kevin Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve to succeed Jerome Powell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer survives another day in office after essentially challenging rivals to ‘put up or shut up’ during a key Cabinet meeting. A potential contender for Starmer’s job, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is set to meet with the Prime Minister at Downing Street for talks ahead of the King’s speech later this morning. President Trump is on his way to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping with an entourage of top business leaders in tow. U.S. CPI data reaches a three-year high which raises speculation whether the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates next year.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership hangs by a thread with now more than 70 Labour MPs calling for him to resign following last Thursday’s devastating local and regional election results. We hear from London Mayor Sadiq Khan who says a change of leadership at this point is not the answer to the government’s problems. U.S. President Donald Trump rubbishes Tehran’s response to American peace proposals and says a lasting ceasefire deal is in peril. As a result, European futures are in the red this morning and Wall Street remains largely flat as focus shifts to the U.S. inflation print – the last presided over by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump dismisses the Iranian response to a U.S. peace proposal as ‘totally unacceptable’. Brent crude prices nudge past the $100-mark on the news. Beijing prepares to welcome President Trump on a two-day visit later this week with the agenda focusing on multiple topics including Iran, A.I. policy as well as trade and rare earth restrictions. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to deliver a crucial address this morning as cabinet members weigh up their chances in a leadership challenge following last week's local and regional election losses for the Labour Party.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.K. stocks have dropped and gilt yields hold near multi-decade highs, after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party see bruising losses in local elections, with Farage’s Reform UK making substantial gains. The U.S. and Iran exchange fire around the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington waits on a response to its proposal to end the war. But President Trump insists the latest incident does not violate the two sides' fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile Commerzbank ups its outlook as it looks to fend off UniCredit but gets a negative reaction in early trade. CEO Bettina Orlopp tells CNBC the German lender is worth more. And IAG warns of a hit to annual profit as the war in Iran sees jet fuel prices soar - shares of the British Airways owner are coming under pressure in early trade. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran says it is considering U.S. proposal to end the conflict as well reportedly begins talks to re-open the Strait of Hormuz and the future of its nuclear programme. President Trump is optimistic an agreement can be reached. European equities close more than two per cent higher on hopes of a peace deal while Wall Street sees fresh record highs. Meanwhile Asian markets continue the rally with the Nikkei leading gains following an extended national holiday in Japan. UK polls open with local, regional, Welsh and Scottish national parliament seats being contested. Investors eye UK gilts with yields at multi-year highs. Shell easily beats quarterly expectations, posting profits of $6.92bn versus expectations of $6.07bn. The oil major has warned of production impacts linked to the Middle East conflict.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump pauses the ‘Project Freedom’ operation after revealing that progress has been achieved on a potential deal with Tehran to end the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says reopening the Strait of Hormuz is paramount, not military action. Equity markets respond positively to the news. In Asia, south Korea’s KOSPI rallies by more than 7 per cent with A.I. and chips stocks leading the way. Novo Nordisk is up ahead of the market open and hikes its guidance. The Danish pharma giant’s Wegovy weight-loss pill sales are up by more than DKK1bn.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S.-Iranian ceasefire agreement is in danger of falling apart after Tehran targets ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The flare-up sees the UAE also engage Iranian missile and drone fire. Unicredit hikes its guidance after delivering its highest quarterly profit ever. Investor focus is now on the Italian lender’s tender off for Commerzbank due from 11am today. CEO Andrea Orcel tells CNBC he has made his intentions clear to Commerzbank shareholders. HSBC Q1 profit comes in relatively flat at $9.4bn, saying it expects credit losses. However CFO Pam Kaur tells CNBC she remains unfazed by the nature of the bank’s credit trends.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump pledges to help guide stranded tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, using as many as 15,000 troops and 100 aircraft. The European Commission is mulling a response after President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on European cars to 25 per cent after accusing the bloc of non-compliance with the trade deal struck last July. European leaders arrive in Yerevan, Armenia for the latest European Political Community summit. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to discuss plans for the country to join the EU’s $90bn loan scheme to Ukraine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Both the ECB and the BoE decided to hold interest rates steady but warn that a June hike could be on the cards should inflation pressures connected to the Iran crisis escalate. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch their strongest month for six years as investors look beyond the Middle East and bet on Big Tech’s A.I. progression. Apple shares are up in after-hours trade following a top and bottom line beat for the quarter. And Brent recedes back from its four-year high but remains well above the $100-mark following comments from President Trump vowing to maintain the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brent crude oil hits a war-time record of more than $123 per barrel after Axios reports U.S. President Trump is to be briefed on potential further strikes on Iran after rejecting Tehran’s offer to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The ECB and BoE are both expected to hold rates steady later today, following on from the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates steady. Chairman Jerome Powell is likely to have held his final FOMC meeting which saw the highest level of dissent since 1992. U.S. futures are in the red but eh Nasdaq celebrates Big Tech earnings. Meta, however, hikes its capex guidance once more, planning an A.I. spending spree and reports its first-ever quarterly fall in active users. European equities will also start the day on the back foot with the FTSE spared the worst of the sell-off due to the rise in oil prices.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two of Europe’s key lenders enjoy stellar quarterly results on the back of market volatility. Deutsche Bank hikes revenue guidance after record profits while UBS notches a profit increase of 80 per cent to $3bn. CEO Sergio Ermotti said the Iranian conflict has not materially shifted client flows. The UAE shocks energy markets by announcing it is quitting Opec to free itself to ramp up production. However, energy minister Suhail Al Mazrouei tells CNBC that the country is committed to maintaining balanced oil markets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump voices displeasure at Iran’s proposal to postpone nuclear talks until after the conflict ends. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz slams U.S. strategic aims in Iran. Swiss pharma giant Novartis misses quarterly sales targets, blaming generic drugs for its double-digit fall in operating profit. We hear from former NATO Secretary-General and currently Norwegian finance minister Jens Stoltenberg who says that while rising oil prices may have boosted his country’s coffers, other sectors of the economy may suffer from falling exports.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump says Iran can pick up the phone after cancelling his envoys’ negotiation trip to Pakistan. Axios reports Tehran is to table a new proposal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz should nuclear discussions be postponed. A gunman rushes a checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, raising criticisms of President Trump’s security arrangements. European futures are sanguine ahead of what’s set to be a full week of blue chip earnings as well as five of the Mag Seven companies. Rate decisions from the Fed, BoJ, ECB and BoE will also be in focus later this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump hails a three-week ceasefire extension between Israel and Lebanon and that he is willing to wait until an appropriate deal is reached with Iran in order to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. EU leaders meet at an informal summit in Cyprus for a second day with the Gulf crisis, energy security and the bloc’s budget top of the agenda. Leaders also celebrated agreement on Ukraine’s €90bn loan. Siemens Energy hikes guidance while software giant SAP notches a Q1 beat but warned that cloud growth was dependent on geo-political events in the Middle East.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nestlé and Heineken both post Q1 earnings beats with LSEG and Roche results out today as well. Tesla also beats in the first quarter however it misses its revenue target and hikes capex expenditure. CEO Elon Musk says his latest mass chip-building project, Terafab, will use Intel’s latest technology, pushing the company’s shares higher in after-hours trade. European futures are firmly in the red, following Asian market moves despite another record session Stateside. Iran seizes two more ships in the Strait of Hormuz, dashing hopes of further peace talks. Oil prices move up, with Brent once again over the $100-mark.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Trump extends the ceasefire with Iran in order to allow for further peace talks to be organised. However, the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded by both sides with global markets in limbo. Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh insists he has made no promises to President Trump on rate cuts and will remain an ‘independent actor’ on future decisions should he be confirmed. The UK’s March CPI is 3.3 per cent higher on the year, up from February’s 3 per cent inflation figure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.