Stock markets across Europe are expected to open on a positive note on Thursday amidst hopes of a peace deal and further easing in the Middle East tensions. The proposed peace talks between Israel and Lebanon, the potential transit of ships through Strait of Hormuz, and the better-than-expected GDP update from China are all seen lifting sentiment. The steady flow of corporate earning updates is also expected to sway sentiment.
Wall Street had closed on a mixed note on Wednesday amidst renewed hopes of an end to the Middle East war and positive earnings updates from the corporate sector. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.6 percent to close trading at a record high of 24,016.02. The S&P 500 also rallied 0.80 percent to finish trading at an all-time high of 7,022.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average however slipped 0.15 percent to finish trading at 48,463.72.
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Market Analysis
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.