In the first stage of Donald Trump’s peace initiative, Hamas is set to release hostages while the Israel Defense Forceswithdraw from Gaza, marking a potential breakthrough in the long-running conflict.In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a new prime minister by tomorrow in a bid to end weeks of political stalemate and stabilize his government.On Wall Street, U.S. equities extended their rally to fresh highs, with the S&P 500 rising 0.58% and the Nasdaq 100climbing 1.12%, driven by gains in technology shares. China, meanwhile, tightened curbs on rare earth exports ahead of a possible trade meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping, heightening geopolitical focus on supply chains.In corporate news, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported better-than-expected sales, buoyed by persistent demand for AI-related chips. In contrast, Ferrari NV shares tumbled 14%, as cautious 2030 guidanceovershadowed otherwise solid profit and sales forecasts.Gold traded steadily above $4,000 an ounce, supported by central bank buying and China’s efforts to develop a financial system less reliant on the U.S. dollar.
Across Europe, equities were mixed — the DAX gained 0.4%, while other regional benchmarks slipped after German exports unexpectedly fell. U.S. futures pointed to a flat open.