All articles tagged with #iran ceasefire
Oil prices climbed toward $100 a barrel as renewed Middle East tensions and doubts about Iran’s ceasefire raise supply fears, with WTI near $99 and Brent around $97. Saudi energy disruptions cut capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day and hit ~700,000 bpd through the East-West pipeline, while limited tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing regional attacks keep markets on edge until flows resume.
Freddie Mac reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.38% for the week, down 9 basis points—the first drop in five weeks as rates ease from a six-month high. The pullback coincides with a drop in the 10-year Treasury yield below 4.3% amid easing inflation fears, and homebuilders like D.R. Horton, Lennar, and PulteGroup edged higher. Despite the relief, affordability remains stretched with rates still above 6%. Redfin notes a record 34.2% of home sellers reduced prices in February, averaging a 7.3% cut ($40,915), underscoring ongoing housing-market pressure. Uncertainty remains ahead of U.S.-Iran peace talks and its potential impact on the Fed’s rate outlook.
US President Donald Trump announced that Israel has agreed to the conditions for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, with talks to finalize a deal involving Hamas, Qatar, and Egypt, following recent peace efforts including a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
Arab mediators and Israeli hostage families are urging for a peace deal to end the Gaza conflict, leveraging Israel's strikes on Iran and a US-Qatar brokered ceasefire to support Prime Minister Netanyahu's political capacity to conclude the 20-month war.
Donald Trump arrived in Europe for the Nato summit in The Hague, where he is expected to highlight recent developments including a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel conflict, amid praise from Dutch leaders. His brief visit includes meetings with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and discussions on NATO's defense commitments, while the US postpones classified Iran briefings amidst ongoing tensions.