Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
2247 ET - The Singapore dollar consolidates against its U.S. counterpart in the Asian session. "We are ultimately cautious in reading too much into what the U.S. side is claiming at this point," MUFG Bank's Michael Wan says. He notes President Trump's claim that U.S.-Iran negotiations are continuing. "We continue to think that negotiations will be very difficult, and hence our message to clients in Asia is to look to engage in some additional hedges if better levels in markets allow and/or reduce some risk as we head into the weekend," the senior currency analyst says in a research report. The U.S. dollar is little changed at 1.2777 Singapore dollars, according to LSEG data. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
1107 ET - Service providers and manufacturers differed in future sentiment for business output in March, according to a survey from S&P Global. In manufacturing, war-related concerns were countered by reduced worries over the adverse impact of tariffs and hopes of strengthening domestic demand for U.S.-made goods, resulting in growth expectations improving to their highest for 13 months, the survey said. Conversely, service providers signaled their weakest outlook since last October, commonly citing concerns over the impact of high energy prices on the cost of living, as well as higher interest rates, financial market worries and war related disruptions to travel. (jessica.coacci@wsj.com; @jessica_coacci)
0851 ET - Bitcoin struggles for direction as uncertainty over the Iran war remains elevated. President Trump said Monday that the U.S. would postpone military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure for five days after constructive talks but Iran denied any negotiations took place. Trump's comments helped calm global risk sentiment and boost cryptocurrencies, LMAX Group's Joel Kruger says in a note. "Looking ahead, the tone remains cautiously constructive." If global risk sentiment is supported and flows continue to stabilize, bitcoin appears well-positioned for further appreciation with ether likely to follow, he says. Bitcoin last trades flat at $70,894 after earlier gains, LSEG data show. Ether is flat at $2,163. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
0730 ET - The dollar could stay confined to a tight range in the near term due to uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, ING's Chris Turner says in a note. The dollar briefly fell Monday on reduced demand for safe havens and lower oil prices due to America's energy independence after President Trump said the U.S. would postpone military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure for five days. Traders will be eager to hear, particularly from Iran, whether there's any realistic chance of ceasefire negotiations, Turner says. "Until then, any further rally in risk assets and selloff in the dollar will prove limited." The DXY dollar index rises 0.3% to 99.280. ING expects it to trade in a range of 99.00-100.00 for now. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
0453 ET - The euro could stay weaker against the dollar this week as a swift end to the Middle East conflict looks unlikely, keeping energy prices elevated, Commerzbank's Volkmar Baur says in a note. President Trump announced Monday that the U.S. would postpone attacks against Iranian energy infrastructure for five days following constructive talks but Iran denied such discussions took place. The postponement shifts the focus to Saturday, Baur says. The risk premium in the oil market that was priced out Monday is therefore likely to slowly build again over the course of the week unless there's positive news on talks, or if it becomes clear that ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz, he says. The euro falls 0.2% to $1.1592. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
0427 ET - Copper prices fall back below the $12,000 mark due to concerns over the impact of the Iran war on global economic growth and inflation. "Copper, a bellwether for the global economy, has been under pressure as the Middle East conflict has sapped risk appetite across financial markets," ANZ analysts write. Three-month futures on the London Metal Exchange are down 1.9% to $11,982.50 a metric ton after rising in the previous trading session, when President Trump said the U.S. would postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and signalled progress in talks. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0411 ET - The flip-flopping of U.S President Trump, "saying one thing one moment and then something completely different the other," while at the same time nothing is corroborated by other concerned parties, is creating confusion and pandemonium for financial markets, analysts at First Abu Dhabi Bank say in a note. Coupled with the deteriorating war environment, this leaves conflicting stories which are triggering wild swings in financial asset prices, the analysts say. "While we remain optimistic that common sense--and military de-escalation--will prevail in the near-term, we are also cognisant that the mixed and often incoherent messaging coming from the Oval Office, will only fuel continued market volatility," they say. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0340 ET - President Trump's move to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and power plants for five days provides relief for oil-and-gas markets, DBS Group Research analysts write in a note. The latest development underlines a fragile and highly volatile potential pivot in the monthlong conflict between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran. Trump also cited "very good and productive conversations" toward a total resolution of hostilities. "This marks a sharp shift in rhetoric from his recent 48-hour ultimatum to 'obliterate' those same targets if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed," DBS says. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0338 ET - Oil prices rebound following a 10% drop in the previous trading session, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf are moving closer to joining the fight against Iran. In early trade, Brent crude gains 2.5% to $102.43 a barrel, while WTI is up 2.9% to $87.85 a barrel. Crude benchmarks plunged on Monday after President Trump postponed strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he described as "productive" talks with Tehran. Iran denied holding negotiations with the U.S., but confirmed that mediation efforts were underway by other nations. "The market reaction likely reflects some retreat in the perceived risks of lengthy disruptions and of damage to energy assets," Goldman Sachs analysts write. However, severe disruptions persist, with flows through the Strait of Hormuz largely halted. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0314 ET - President Trump's claim of "very good and productive" negotiations with Iran signals his attempt at de-escalation, according to Pepperstone's Michael Brown. After Trump said Washington and Tehran held conversations, Iran denied them, but "whether or not talks have taken place is somewhat immaterial," the research strategist says in a note. The move signals that Trump has reversed the ultimatum issued over the weekend and seems to be pursuing de-escalation for the first time since the conflict began. "We might finally be seeing a faint chink of light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the ongoing Middle East conflict." (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
0247 ET - It's too early to get too optimistic about 'peace deals' in the Middle East getting baked in the next couple of days as demands of both sides still seem unbridgeable, Macquarie's Thierry Wizman and Gareth Berry say in a note. "It's far-fetched to imagine the U.S. dropping its demands pertaining to Iran's nuclear assets, or that the U.S. would just leave its bases in the Gulf," the global strategists say. It is also far-fetched to see Iran dropping support for its proxy armies at this stage, they say. That said, "the war is unlikely to last beyond mid-April because Iran's threats are likely to be neutralized by then." But once neutralized, the U.S. will have the upper hand in any negotiations that ensue, they say. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 24, 2026 22:47 ET (02:47 GMT)
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