Star Metro - Oil falls, stocks waver as investors eye US-Iran talks

Hopes of an imminent deal to avoid further hostilities in the Mideast war had bolstered optimism earlier in the session, with benchmark oil contracts falling more than five percent.

But a White House statement rejecting an Iranian report about a framework deal prompted caution, even though analysts say most investors still expect the negotiations to bear fruit.

"The hope will be that this is finally the week when a real breakthrough is achieved, but should negotiations fail then we could see market patience wear thin," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

He noted, however, that "Even if an agreement is reached, it will take time to get energy infrastructure fully back online and shipments flowing through the Strait of Hormuz at anywhere near pre-war levels."

Investors appeared willing to look past the conflicting headlines, buoyed also by another surge for tech stocks on expectations the AI rollout will continue to propel earnings in the sector.

In Asia, South Korean chipmaker SK hynix jumped 11 percent to hit a $1-trillion market capitalisation, placing it alongside regional tech heavyweights Samsung Electronics and TSMC.

The gains followed a strong session on Wall Street on Tuesday, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched fresh record highs as US chipmaker Micron piled on nearly 20 percent to also hit a $1-trillion market cap.

"The tech boom is back," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB.

The Middle East war, which began in late February, has effectively halted tanker and cargo traffic in the Hormuz strait, a vital oil and gas trading corridor, driving up energy prices and stoking global inflation.

Economists warn that central banks may have to raise interest rates if inflation persists, increasing borrowing costs and potentially weighing on economic growth.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that a return to war with the United States was unlikely, despite new US airstrikes on Iranian targets even though a ceasefire is in place.

The restoration of internet services by the Iranian authorities on Tuesday after a three-month shutdown was also taken as a positive sign that tensions were easing, investors said.

- Key figures at around 1545 GMT -

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 3.2 percent at $93.48 a barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.8 percent at $90.10 a barrel

New York - DOW: UP 0.3 percent at 50,612.60 points

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,504.35

New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.4 percent at 26,553.91

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 10,505.01 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 8,207.89

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Frankfurt - DAX: FLAT at 25,177.80

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Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 25,328.23 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 64,999.41 points (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.3 percent at 4,093.73 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1628 from 1.1635 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3422 from $1.3449

Dollar/yen: UP at 159.50 from 159.30 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 86.65 from 86.49 pence

Y.Walker--SMC