Global stock markets experienced a rebound as oil prices declined on Saturday, following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, which alleviated immediate concerns regarding energy supply stability.
Market data revealed a notable downturn in the commodities sector, complemented by a significant rally in major equity benchmarks. Brent Crude oil prices fell sharply by 7.57 percent, closing at $91.87 per barrel, down from a previous close of $99.39. The commodity reached an intraday low of $86.08, distancing itself further from its 52-week high of $114.81. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also fell by 9.63 percent, declining by $9.12 to settle at $85.57. Conversely, gold prices bucked this trend, increasing by 0.94 percent to $4,833.56.
US equity markets reacted positively to the geopolitical changes, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 868.71 points, or 1.79 percent, to close at 49,447.43. The S&P 500 saw a gain of 1.20 percent, finishing at 7,126.06, while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 1.52 percent to reach 24,468.48.
This upturn in Western markets followed a more muted performance in Asian markets. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell by 1,042.44 points, a decrease of 1.78 percent, closing at 58,475.90. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong and Taiwan’s Weighted Index both posted losses of 0.89 percent. South Korea’s KOSPI declined by 0.55 percent, settling at 6,191.92, while regional results were mixed elsewhere.
The Jakarta Composite Index recorded a modest gain of 0.17 percent, reaching 7,634.00, but remained down 12.74 percent year-to-date. The Shanghai Composite experienced a slight decline of 0.10 percent, closing at 4,051.43, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index and Thailand’s SET Composite recorded small losses of 0.20 percent and 0.49 percent, respectively.
The decline in oil prices and the uptick in stock indices followed the Iranian government’s acceptance of US President Donald Trump’s proposal for peace, agreeing to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks and pausing military operations. This temporary halt is anticipated to pave the way for more extensive negotiations and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.
On Friday, Trump expressed optimism during a press conference in Phoenix, stating that discussions with Iran were advancing positively and would continue into the weekend. “We’ve had some very good discussions… and we’ve done a good job, but we’ll see. Talks are going on, and we’ll go on over the weekend,” he stated, also mentioning positive developments involving Lebanon.
Published on April 18, 2026.
