Stocks flat, oil falls as rate worries offset Iran talks optimism
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 22, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
NEW YORK, June 22 : Global stocks were mostly flat on Monday while oil prices fell, as optimism over progress in U.S.-Iran talks was offset by expectations of higher interest rates that pushed U.S. Treasury yields up.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in Switzerland that Iran agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country, with conversations over the inspections possibly beginning as soon as this week.
The U.S. Treasury Department authorized Iranian sales of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products through August 21, easing decades-old sanctions as it pushes toward a final peace deal with Iran in return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were lower on the day, dragged down by communication services and consumer discretionary stocks. The Dow was higher.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.13 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 0.46 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.32 per cent.
Europe's STOXX 600 index was last up 0.58 per cent. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.08 per cent.
Asian stocks climbed overnight, supported by the apparent progress in peace talks. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed higher by 0.82 per cent.
Markets are being driven by the Fed's hawkish outlook and reduced expectations that new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh would move to begin cutting rates, said Gerry Sparrow, chief investment officer at Sparrow Capital Management.
"The market was somewhat surprised by the new Fed chair's action as it was under the expectation that he was going to be a little easier on rates," Sparrow said.
The Federal Reserve last Wednesday held interest rates steady, but policymakers expect a hike in borrowing costs later this year amid growing concerns about inflation lodged above the U.S. central bank's 2 per cent target.
The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose 5.78 basis points to 4.509 per cent.
The apparent progress in discussions pushed Brent crude futures to settle lower by 3.38 per cent to $77.90 a barrel, far below its May peak of $126.41.
"The progress in peace talks is good but the only negative surprise was the new Fed wasn't a little bit more accommodative during its most recent announcement," Sparrow said.
UK POUND RISES AFTER STARMER RESIGNS
The pound rose after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation, paving the way for Britain's seventh leader in 10 years.
The pound reversed earlier losses and was up 0.06 per cent at $1.3243.
Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the favorite to succeed Starmer, but investors said a key question for nervous UK bond markets would be who becomes finance minister.
The euro eased 0.38 per cent to $1.1424, after hitting a three-month low on Friday at $1.1418.
The dollar was up 0.14 per cent at 161.51 yen, with only the threat of Japanese intervention preventing the currency rising to 2024's 40-year high of 161.96.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, rose 0.18 per cent. Spot gold rose 0.76 per cent to $4,192.46 an ounce.
