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diplomacyMay 6, 2026

Oil retreats on peace prospects as AI surge powers stock rally

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Oil prices dipped after US President Donald Trump's latest words fuelled hopes a for renewed peace talks with Iran. At the same time, stock markets and especially tech stocks were benefiting from the ongoing positive investment sentiment fuelled by growth related to AI. Oil prices retreated on Wednesday morning amid hopes of an end to the war with Iran, after US President Donald Trump said Washington would temporarily pause “Project Freedom”, its naval mission escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” in talks with Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “While the blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the agreement can be finalised and signed.” The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since the conflict began on 28 February, disrupting around one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies and leaving more than 20,000 people stranded aboard ships in the Persian Gulf. US military officials have previously said a ceasefire with Iran was in effect, although uncertainty over the situation remains. Crude oil futures fell late on Tuesday. International benchmark Brent crude for next-month delivery dropped 1.3% to $108.47 a barrel on Wednesday morning, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell $1.37 to $100.90 a barrel. Prices nevertheless remain well above the roughly $70 levels seen before the outbreak of the war. Equity markets rally as Samsung tops $1tn valuation on AI boom Global equity markets climbed on Wednesday, with gains across Asia and positive signals from European futures, as investor optimism around artificial intelligence and easing geopolitical tensions boosted sentiment. By 7 a.m. CEST, futures for European stocks were pointing higher, with the EURO STOXX 50 up around 1%. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi surged nearly 7% to a record high after markets reopened following Tuesday’s holiday. The rally was led by Samsung Electronics, whose shares jumped almost 13%, pushing the company’s market value above $1 trillion for the first time. Samsung, alongside rival SK Hynix, has emerged as a major supplier of high-performance chips powering the global AI boom. Shares in SK Hynix also rose around 10% in early trading. Elsewhere in Asia, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained nearly 1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7% and Shanghai’s Composite index added 1%. Japanese markets remained closed for a public holiday. US stocks also closed higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.8% to a fresh record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 1% to another all-time high. Markets were also supported by hopes of progress in talks aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict, helping ease concerns over energy supplies and global trade disruption. Economic data from the US painted a mixed picture. Growth in the services sector slowed unexpectedly last month, while separate figures showed job openings were slightly stronger than forecast, signalling continued resilience in the labour market. Meanwhile, UK government borrowing costs climbed to their highest level in nearly three decades amid concerns over local elections and rising energy prices. Yields on 30-year gilts rose to 5.78%, their highest level since 1998, while 10-year yields climbed above 5.10%. In currency markets, the dollar was little changed at 157.88 yen, while the euro edged higher to $1.1720. Gold futures rose 2% to $4,662 an ounce, while silver prices climbed 3.5% in European morning trading.

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  • Doloresz KatanichBy Doloresz Katanich

    Oil prices dipped after US President Donald Trump's latest words fuelled hopes a for renewed peace talks with Iran. At the same time, stock markets and especially tech stocks were benefiting from the ongoing positive investment sentiment fuelled by growth related to AI. Oil price…

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Key points: Bitcoin diverges from US stocks as Trump says Strait of Hormuz “open” Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD building on the week’s gains as the S&P 500 bounced from 7,696, its lowest level since Aug. 4. BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView This came after US president Donald Trump posted a map of the closed Strait of Hormuz oil route to Truth Social where it was labeled “new US territory.

” Both the US and Iran lay claim to control of Hormuz, with Trump threatening US ally Oman with military action over its plans to work with Iran on charging tolls to shipping traffic. In a subsequent post, Trump confirmed that further diplomacy with Iran was not on the agenda.

“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” he wrote. S&P 500 one-day chart.

Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView As on Monday, oil avoided major volatility, with WTI crude down 1% at the time of writing at $84 per barrel. US government bonds continued to show strain, with the 30-year yield hitting 5.34%, its highest since January 2007.

“Bond prices are sending warnings,” BNY Mellon analyst Geoff Yu wrote in a research note quoted by the New York Times. Yu said that the surge came as “investors demand more compensation for inflation risk,” while also attributing the upside to government borrowing.

US 30-year bond yields one-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView BTC price faces crunch rebound test Updating X followers on BTC/USD, trader and analyst Aksel Kibar eyed the culmination of a potential reverse head-and-shoulders pattern at $62,300.

Related: Bitcoin price spike to $64.5K was ‘low-volume liquidity trap’: Analysis “If $BTCUSD is going to rebound, it has to come from here,” he argued on Monday. Kibar offered a $53,000 target in the event of the head-and-shoulders structure failing, with $76,000 a potential upside target should the rebound sustain.

BTC/USD one-day chart. Source: Aksel Kibar on X.com Previously, Cointelegraph reported that underwater investors were contributing to Bitcoin’s inability to break higher. Its rebound to $64,500 also stopped short of an overhead trend line, the 50-month exponential moving average (EMA).

This moving average is now in place as resistance at $65,827.

Location: Strait of Hormuz
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Trump says no talks underway with Iran, Hormuz blockade remains in place US president says no discussions are taking place or planned with Tehran and reiterates that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains fully operational Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no talks are taking place with Iran and that no discussions are currently scheduled between the two countries.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also said the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains "in full force and effect." The president did not provide further details regarding US policy towards Iran or any potential future diplomatic engagement.

Trump's comments come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran and renewed focus on security and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

Location: Tehran
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Iran had “won both the war and diplomacy,” claiming those who initially sought Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” later sought negotiations. Speaking at an event, Araghchi said Iran resisted for days against what he described as “the world’s largest apparent military,” alongside another army claiming military power and with the support of nearly all Western countries and some other states inside and outside the region, according to the Tasnim news agency.

“Those who were seeking unconditional surrender, shortly after the war began, begged for negotiations,” Araghchi said. He claimed Tehran initially rejected a ceasefire and continued fighting until reaching a point where the other side accepted a ceasefire and negotiations “on Iran’s terms.

” “We fought with strength, and we negotiated with strength,” he said, adding that many foreign ministers had told him: “You won both the war and diplomacy.” Araghchi’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump called on Iran on Monday to give up and “raise the white flag.

Location: Tehran
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- Iran demands US lift sanctions and return frozen assets to reopen Strait of Hormuz - Iran's Parliament Speaker warns closure of Strait continues until US ends military threats - Around 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait, impacting energy security Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US meets a set of conditions, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to oil sanctions and what Tehran describes as a US blockade and military threats.

Al-Arabiya English reported that Iran's Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Trump administration must meet the conditions before Tehran considers reopening the strategic waterway. “Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Ghalibaf said.

Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. pic.twitter.com/fl2RrKnT1R— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) August 18, 2026 Ghalibaf also warned that Iran was prepared to respond more forcefully depending on the actions of its adversaries.

ALSO READ: 'We Control Hormuz': Trump To Declare Strait As US Territory? Here's What President Says The comments add a new condition to an already fragile diplomatic environment, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of concerns over global energy supplies.

Around one-fifth of global oil supply typically passes through the waterway, making any prolonged disruption a major risk for crude markets, shipping and energy security. Earlier, Press TV reported that Ghalibaf is scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-level Iranian delegation for discussions with Iraqi leaders.

The talks are expected to cover regional developments and bilateral cooperation, including border security, counterterrorism, economic ties and implementation of existing agreements. Iraqi media have also reported that the agenda could include a proposal concerning Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit comes as regional governments grapple with the implications of continued disruption in one of the world's most important energy corridors. ALSO READ: Hormuz Tensions: Another Ship Hit By Unknown Projectile, Says UKMTO Centre The security situation in the waterway has also remained tense.

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations agency, or UKMTO, said a vessel reported being struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz. “The Company Security Officer has reported that the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz,” UKMTO said.

The impact damaged the vessel's engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, the agency said. The remaining crew was being assisted by the Omani coastguard. Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.

Location: Tehran