Real-time News

US chip stocks rose, with Intel (INTC.O) up over 8%, Nvidia (NVDA.O) up 3.4%, and Qualcomm (QCOM.O) up over 2%.

Sources say Saudi oil pipelines were damaged in an attack, and pipeline flow is expected to be affected.

U.S. airline stocks rose, with United Airlines up 13% and Delta Air Lines up 11%.

ExxonMobil fell 6.8%, Chevron fell 5.2%, and Occidental Petroleum fell 9.5%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened 1,384.01 points higher, or 2.97%, at 47,968.47 on Wednesday, April 8; the S&P 500 opened 169.88 points higher, or 2.57%, at 6,786.73; and the Nasdaq Composite opened 751.46 points higher, or 3.41%, at 22,769.31.

Shares of Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras plunged 6.5% as oil prices fell following the ceasefire agreement.

The UN Middle East envoy has arrived in Iran.

On April 8, 2026, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met with Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand in Beijing. Wang Yi stated that Her Highness has visited China 57 times in the past 45 years, traversing the length and breadth of the country. She is a participant in China's reform and opening-up process, a witness to Chinese-style modernization, and a pragmatic promoter of China-Thailand friendship. This year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. China is willing to work with Thailand, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Thailand, strengthen cooperation in areas of concern to Her Highness such as high technology, education, and people's livelihood, continuously sow the seeds of friendship, and promote the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future to benefit the people. Princess Sirindhorn stated that China is a good friend of Thailand.

On April 8th, John Briggs, an analyst at Natixis, stated that the bond market may remain reluctant to price in significant US interest rate cuts following the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Despite the significant easing of tensions, the impact of the war on inflation remains unclear. Furthermore, we may need the Federal Reserve to signal that they are comfortable with policy and confident in the progress of (inflation) transmission. Therefore, while we still expect two rate cuts this year and seek to buy on dips, we will remain patient. He anticipates that long-term bond yields will be higher than short-term yields.

S&P: Given the expected healthy economic growth and narrowing fiscal deficit of the Philippines over the next two years, we maintain a stable outlook on the Philippines.

On April 8th, Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC, met with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates. Chen Jining stated that as the forefront of China's reform and opening up and a globally connected metropolis, Shanghai is deepening its development into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and technological innovation center, in accordance with the grand blueprint drawn by President Xi Jinping. Shanghai strives to fully leverage its leading and exemplary role in advancing Chinese-style modernization, supporting global enterprises to confidently cultivate and achieve win-win cooperation in Shanghai through a long-term, stable, and predictable development environment. Mr. Ray Dalio supports the stable development of China-US relations and has strongly supported exchanges between Chinese and American youth. He expressed hope that Shanghai would better serve as a bridge, encouraging more entrepreneurs, investors, and especially young people to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China and Shanghai, promoting exchanges and communication between young people of the two countries in more forms, and injecting more certainty and positive energy into cooperation in various fields.

The World Bank: Under the baseline scenario of a sharp but temporary rise in energy prices, economic growth in emerging market and developing economies in Europe and Central Asia will slow significantly in 2026.

World Bank: Despite the recent surge in oil and gas prices providing a short-term boost, Russia's economic growth is expected to slow to 0.8% by 2026.

The World Bank's South Asia Update report indicates that, affected by the volatility in the global energy market, South Asia's economic growth rate is expected to slow from 7.0% in 2025 to 6.3% in 2026.

On April 8th, according to the Financial Times, ExxonMobil warned that its first-quarter profits could be reduced by up to $6.5 billion due to the impact of the war in Iran. However, the company stated that the main reason for this loss was improper timing of its accounting treatment of hedging contracts, and that the loss would be offset as the underlying transactions were eventually completed. The US oil group also stated that global oil and gas production in the first quarter of this year would be 6% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2025 due to attacks on its owned facilities in Qatar and the UAE.

On April 8, Maersk Line of Denmark stated that the ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran does not fully guarantee the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The company remains cautious about the current situation and will not resume the routes suspended last month. In a statement, Maersk said that although the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran may create opportunities for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security remains uncertain, and the conditions attached to the ceasefire need to be understood. The company stated that it will continue to closely monitor developments and will provide timely updates as the situation changes in the coming hours and days. "Any decisions regarding the Strait of Hormuz will be based on continuous risk assessment, close monitoring of the security situation, and guidance from relevant authorities and partners."