AM Markets Should Know: U.S.-Iran Updates, Global Chip Sales, and More
AM Markets Should Know: U.S.-Iran Updates, Global Chip Sales, and More
Stock index futures rose on Monday, as traders remained focused on Middle Eastern developments, notably the condition of the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S.-Iran The United States, Iran, and regional mediators are negotiating a potential 45-day ceasefire that might prepare the way for the war’s end, according to four U.S., Israeli, and regional sources familiar with the negotiations. The discussions are based on a two-phased agreement, with the first phase being a 45-day ceasefire to allow for more negotiations, and the second phase being an end-of-war settlement.
Trump issues an ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz: United States President Donald Trump has given Iran till 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply could result in US assaults on critical infrastructure throughout the country.
Trump increased pressure on Tehran over the weekend with a series of social media postings and interviews, implying that power plants, bridges, and other important facilities could be targeted if the waterway continues closed. The strait, a critical corridor for global oil exports, has been mostly closed since confrontations between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated more than a month ago.
Iran admits Iraqi oil via the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has suggested a partial relaxation of restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Iraqi oil shipments to flow through the critical corridor after weeks of interruption that shook global energy markets, according to the Financial Times on Sunday.
The Ocean Thunder, an Iraqi tanker, safely passed the strait along Iran’s coastline over the weekend, transporting approximately 1 million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude, according to shipping data published by the newspaper. The passage is one of the most obvious indications yet that Tehran may be selectively reopening the waterway.
Global semiconductor sales rose to $88.8 billion in February 2026, up 7.6% month on month and 61.8% year on year, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. “Sales into the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, and China were all major drivers of year-to-year growth,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO.
Markets begin to price in a “Trump risk premium” as policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions mount, according to economist Robin Brooks. Brooks, a former senior FX strategist at Goldman Sachs, believes recent movements in Treasury yields indicate that investors are beginning to price in political risk associated with President Donald Trump’s policy approach, particularly on trade, fiscal growth, and geopolitical issues.