WS #5862

The data dump shows significant developments in US-Iran diplomatic efforts, with multiple sources confirming that US envoys Witkoff and Kushner are heading to Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials, and Trump stating Iran wants to make a deal. This de-escalation signal is corroborated by the US issuing a general license for wind-down of transactions involving a Chinese refinery tied to Iranian oil, and the dollar weakening on the news. Separately, Intel's strong earnings continue to drive semiconductor momentum, with the stock surging and the Nasdaq hitting new highs. Google's planned $40 billion investment in Anthropic underscores the AI arms race. The EU and US signed a critical minerals agreement, countering China's dominance. A hedge fund closure (Eminence Capital) and a UN report on potential international law violations in Lebanon are noted but less market-moving. Overall, the market is reacting positively to Iran de-escalation and tech earnings, while oil-related stocks may face headwinds from the diplomatic progress.