Kamal Ghorui
US stock markets opened muted on Thursday while crude oil prices surged toward $100 per barrel, as doubts over the durability of the US-Iran ceasefire dampened investor sentiment, AP reported.The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 40 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2% in early trade after a strong rally in the previous session.Markets turned cautious as the United States, Iran and Israel disagreed over terms of the two-week ceasefire, raising concerns about renewed disruptions in energy supply.Oil prices jumped sharply, with US crude rising 6.8% to $100.79 per barrel after reports that Iranian forces may have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed 3.7% to $98.24 per barrel, remaining significantly above pre-war levels of around $70, though below the peak of $119 seen during heightened tensions.Analysts said the uncertainty around the ceasefire could keep oil prices elevated. Strategists at Macquarie noted that upward pressure on prices may persist as risks of renewed conflict and supply disruptions remain.On Wall Street, stock-specific moves remained mixed. Simply Good Foods plunged 15.1% after reporting a sharper-than-expected drop in revenue, with CEO Joe Scalzo calling the performance unsatisfactory.In contrast, Constellation Brands gained 5.3% after posting better-than-expected quarterly results, though it withdrew forward guidance citing “limited near-term visibility”.Mixed economic data also weighed on sentiment. A key inflation gauge came in slightly higher than expected for February, while jobless claims rose more than anticipated, pointing to potential softening in the labour market.Bond markets remained volatile, with the yield on the 10-year US Treasury inching up to 4.31% from 4.29%, reflecting concerns over persistent inflation and elevated borrowing costs.Analysts said sustained high oil prices could complicate the Federal Reserve’s rate trajectory, with policymakers increasingly considering the possibility of rate hikes if inflation pressures persist.Global markets also weakened, with South Korea’s Kospi falling 1.6% and Germany’s DAX declining 1.4%.
