With no progress in sight in easing tensions in the Middle East crisis, and the Strait of Hormuz continues to remain blocked, oil prices again crossed the $100 mark, rising for the fourth consecutive session. Brent crude is inching towards $104 per barrel on Thursday, increasing by 1.87 percent, while the US-traded WTI rose above $94. Even as President Donald Trump announced that he would extend
The U.S. Dollar value moved higher after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire set to lapse on April 22, which boosted the stock markets. However, the blockade on Strait of Hormuz and Iran's seizure of two ships in the strait kept the tensions alive and limited the dollar's slide.
Canadian stocks advanced on Wednesday after tumbling in the previous session as U.S. President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran war, which calmed the market. However, the ongoing blockade of Strait of Hormuz capped the gains.
Stocks showed a strong move to the upside during trading on Wednesday, more than offsetting the pullback seen over the two previous sessions. With the upward move, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 reached new record closing highs.
Continuing the gains from the two previous sessions, crude oil has soared on Wednesday despite the extension of the ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran war as supply-disruption concerns remain due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.