Markets steady as Iran talks progress and AI chip demand fuels sentiment

U.S. stock futures were mixed to modestly higher after Iran signaled progress in peace talks with the United States, easing fears of a renewed Middle East flare-up and keeping oil risk in check. By 0333 ET, S&P 500 and Dow futures were down about 0.06% while Nasdaq 100 futures rose roughly 0.16%. AI-sector headlines dominated: President Trump softened his stance on Anthropic amid export-control tensions, and SK Hynix surpassed Samsung Electronics as Korea’s most valuable company on surging AI-chip demand. Charles Schwab was reported to be pursuing binary options, underscoring ongoing market-innovation. Overall, any durable Iran deal could boost risk appetite and ease energy-driven inflation, while AI policy and chip supply remain key market drivers.