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European stocks may open broadly lower on Wednesday, though energy stocks may rise after a spike in oil prices overnight.<\/p>\n
Middle East tensions intensified, with reports suggesting that U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n
Making his stance clear. “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate with Iran,” Trump said, adding that his goal is a permanent solution: “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.”<\/p>\n
Later, on Truth Social, Trump said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is an easy target but “for now” he would not act to eliminate him.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, he posted, in all capital letters: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a message on X, wrote that the battle has begun. “In the name of Nami, the battle begins. Ali returns to Khaybar with his Zulfiqar,” a translation of his post suggested.<\/p>\n
In economic releases, consumer prices data from the U.K. and the euro area are awaited later in the day. <\/p>\n
Across the Atlantic, the Fed’s monetary policy announcement will be in the spotlight along with reports on housing starts and weekly jobless claims.<\/p>\n
While any movement on interest rates seems improbable, new projections for interest rates and the economy<\/span> released after the meeting could move markets. <\/p>\n The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates at 4.25 per cent on Thursday after inflation jumped in April.<\/p>\n Asian markets<\/span> traded mixed, a weaker dollar supported metal prices and gold held steady below $3,400 per ounce, while oil prices dipped after climbing more than 4 percent on Tuesday to hit a near five-month high.<\/p>\n Overnight, U.S. stocks fell notably as the Israel-Iran conflict raged for a fifth day and weak retail sales, housing and industrial output data lifted bonds ahead of the Federal Reserve decision.<\/p>\n President Trump claimed that the U.S. has “complete and total control of the skies over Iran”, adding that Iran’s defense systems, including advanced tracking equipment, are no match for American-made military technology<\/span>.<\/p>\n The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9 percent, the S&P 500 fell 0.8 percent and the Dow gave up 0.7 percent.<\/p>\n European stocks closed firmly in the red on Tuesday following Trump’s call to evacuate Tehran.<\/p>\n The pan-European STOXX 600 closed 0.9 percent lower. The German DAX lost 1.1 percent, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.8 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 dropped half a percent. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Business News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n