Global Stock Markets Mixed as Investors Weigh U.S.–Iran Peace Deal Stability Amid Holiday-Thinned Trading
Global stock markets delivered a mixed performance on Friday as investors continued to assess the strength and long-term durability of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with Iran. Sentiment remained cautious across major regions, with traders balancing geopolitical relief against lingering uncertainty over whether the deal will hold under political pressure.
Across Asia-Pacific, markets mostly closed in negative territory after recent record highs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 managed a modest gain of 0.28% to finish at 71,250.06, while the broader Topix index slipped 0.57%. In South Korea, the Kospi eased 0.13% after briefly crossing the 9,000 mark for the first time, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq dropped sharply by 3.43% as investors booked profits in volatile small-cap stocks.
European trading was steadier by comparison. The pan-European Stoxx 600 edged up about 0.1%, recovering from earlier losses as gains in energy and healthcare helped offset weakness elsewhere. In the United Kingdom, however, financial pressures weighed on sentiment as 10-year gilt yields climbed above 4.82% following data showing government borrowing surged to its highest May level since 2019, raising concerns about fiscal stability.
In the United States, markets were closed for the Juneteenth holiday, though futures trading remained active but subdued. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures both traded slightly lower, reflecting cautious positioning ahead of next week’s sessions. Traders also reacted to political remarks from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who stressed that any economic relief for Iran under the agreement would depend strictly on compliance with its terms.
Despite the holiday, Wall Street had ended the previous session on a strong note. The S&P 500 rose 1.08%, the Nasdaq surged 1.91%, and the Dow Jones posted modest gains after the Federal Reserve signaled the possibility of future rate adjustments. The upbeat close highlighted the market’s ongoing sensitivity to both monetary policy expectations and geopolitical developments.
source: cnbc