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Trump Pressures Tehran to Move Quickly on U.S. Ceasefire Proposal

A person stands next to the remnant of an Iranian missile, in Beitin village near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to act swiftly on a proposed ceasefire plan aimed at ending nearly four weeks of intense conflict across the Middle East. His remarks came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Tehran is reviewing the U.S. proposal but is not engaged in direct negotiations, insisting that current exchanges through intermediaries do not constitute formal dialogue.  Indirect communication between the two countries is reportedly being facilitated by Pakistan, with additional support from Turkey and Egypt. Despite this, Iranian officials maintain a firm stance, emphasizing continued resistance and rejecting the notion of active talks.  Trump, however, has publicly claimed that Iranian leaders are eager for a deal, asserting that they are under immense pressure both domestically and militarily. He warned Tehran...

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Treasuries Extend Selloff Amid Hawkish Fed Views


The world’s largest bond market is experiencing continued turbulence as hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) views persist. Here are the key points:

  1. Asian Stocks Under Pressure: Asian stocks are set to open lower after US shares extended their losing streak to the longest since January. Equity futures contracts in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea indicate early losses, while those in Australia and China gained. Investors will closely watch Asian chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Tokyo Electron Ltd.

  2. ASML Holding NV’s Warning: Europe’s most valuable tech firm, ASML Holding NV, reported a tumble in orders during the first quarter. Its China sales are likely to be hampered by US export control measures. This news has raised concerns for semiconductor stocks.

  3. US Bond Market: Despite solid economic readings, the US bond market faces headwinds. Jerome Powell’s recent comments have dampened rate-cut expectations. However, dip buyers emerged in the Treasury market, with two-year yields dropping below 5%. A $13 billion sale of 20-year bonds also drew solid demand.

  4. Investor Sentiment: Investors remain skeptical about how much further US stocks can rally after their strong performance in the first quarter. The latest pullback occurs even as US economic data point to continued strength.

  5. Dollar and Currencies: The dollar was little changed in Asia after falling for the first time in six days. Japanese yen and Korean won have also experienced significant declines against the dollar this year.

  6. Outlook: UBS Global Wealth Management expects the yield on the 10-year US Treasury to end the year around 3.85%. The Fed’s rate cuts, though delayed, are still anticipated, leading to further bond market adjustments.

In summary, the bond market remains sensitive to Fed communications, economic data, and global events. Investors should closely monitor developments as interest rates continue to be a focal point.


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