Published on 22/04/2026 01:45 AM
US Stock Market Live Updates: Wall Street ended lower on Tuesday as uncertainty around US-Iran negotiations rattled investor sentiment ahead of a looming ceasefire deadline, dampening hopes of a near-term diplomatic breakthrough.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 293 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite also declined 0.6% each, extending their losses for a second straight session as risk appetite weakened.The cautious mood followed reports that Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip for Iran talks was paused amid a lack of commitment from Tehran, casting fresh doubt over the progress of negotiations. The development comes just a day before the ceasefire deadline, with little clarity on whether an agreement will be reached in time.US President Donald Trump struck a mixed tone, saying he still expects a “great deal” with Iran, while warning that Washington is prepared for military action if no agreement is finalised. He also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire multiple times, signalling rising tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.Sarat Sethi cautioned investors against trying to trade market swings tied to developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict.Speaking on Power Lunch, Sethi said markets likely have already priced in the outcome of any potential agreement, urging investors to stick to their allocations instead of attempting to time volatility.He recommended focusing on defensive sectors such as consumer staples and healthcare, which tend to have steady demand and are less impacted by geopolitical uncertainty.Eight out of eleven sectors in the S&P 500 ended in the red on Tuesday, reflecting broad-based weakness.Only energy, information technology, and consumer discretionary posted gains, rising 1.1%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively.On the downside, utilities led losses with a 1.5% drop, followed by real estate at 1.3%, while industrials and materials each declined 0.8%.Worker sentiment showed signs of recovery in April, with fresh data from ADP Research pointing to improving confidence in the job market.The firm’s index for employee motivation and commitment rose three points to 132, snapping a seven-month streak of declines.The rebound was led by gains in healthcare and social assistance, a sector that has driven much of the recent hiring momentum.Mary Hayes noted that strong job growth in healthcare is helping lift overall worker sentiment.Oil prices moved higher after reports that the US has put fresh peace talks with Iran on hold, delaying Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Pakistan.Futures on Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate rose about 4.5%, trading near $94.50 and $91.30 per barrel, respectively.Oil prices moved higher after reports that the US has put fresh peace talks with Iran on hold, delaying Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Pakistan.Futures on Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate rose about 4.5%, trading near $94.50 and $91.30 per barrel, respectively.
Even as earnings surprised on the upside, major US companies are choosing caution over optimism in their forward guidance, highlighting ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.
GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp said the company would have raised its outlook after a strong first-quarter beat, but decided against it, calling the current environment “prudent” for maintaining guidance.
The cautious tone was echoed across corporates. 3M and Northrop Grumman both reaffirmed full-year EPS guidance despite beating estimates, while RTX Corporation raised guidance modestly after a stronger-than-expected quarter.
UnitedHealth Group was a relative outlier, lifting its full-year outlook more meaningfully following a large earnings beat. In contrast, D.R. Horton trimmed the upper end of its revenue and home delivery forecast.
Overall, the reporting season shows a consistent pattern: solid earnings, but guarded outlooks as companies navigate an uncertain global backdrop.
The recent selloff in Colgate-Palmolive may have gone too far, according to Rothschild & Co Redburn, which has upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Neutral”.
The stock has fallen more than 16% since the start of the US-Iran conflict, with investors worried that higher energy prices could hurt consumer demand. But analyst Edward Lewis argues this fear is overstated, noting that over 60% of sales and 80% of organic growth come from regions with limited exposure to the war’s impact.
While acknowledging possible margin pressure from higher energy costs in FY26–27, the firm expects earnings to stay resilient, supported by Colgate’s focus on productivity savings.
Growth in Latin America and steady demand for its pet nutrition brand Hill’s are also expected to cushion performance. The bank has raised its price target to $100, implying nearly 20% upside from current levels.
Shares of Intel may have more room to run, as analysts at HSBC flagged a key trigger the market may be underestimating: demand for server CPUs.
The brokerage upgraded Intel to “Buy”, pointing to a likely pickup in server-related revenue starting the second quarter of 2026. HSBC estimates quarterly revenue at $14.2 billion—about 9% higher than market expectations—suggesting upside surprises could be on the horizon.
Intel’s stock has already gained momentum, supported by strategic moves in its foundry business and an equity-related development at its Ireland facility. However, analysts believe the next leg of growth could come from stronger server chip demand.
Even under conservative assumptions, HSBC sees meaningful upside in the stock, with its base target at $95 and a bullish scenario implying valuations above $100, highlighting an attractive risk-reward setup for investors.Apple is heading into one of its historically stronger periods of the year, based on long-term seasonal trends.Data since 2003 shows May, July, August, and October delivering the strongest median returns for the stock, while September stands out as the only consistently negative month.A longer-term view going back to 1981 reinforces the pattern, with October emerging as the standout performer and August also posting strong gains, while September remains a persistent laggard.Valmont Industries surged 12% after posting better-than-expected first-quarter results, driven by strong demand in its North America utility business. The company also raised the lower end of its full-year earnings guidance.Pitney Bowes climbed 8% after reporting preliminary quarterly results that topped estimates, with both revenue and adjusted earnings coming in ahead of expectations.OFG Bancorp gained more than 5% following strong first-quarter performance, with core revenue rising year-on-year. The company also boosted its dividend by 17% and continued share buybacks.
Dow Jones futures turn negative, down nearly 100 points against a gain of over 400 points. Dollar index rises to day’s high of $98.34. Oil hits $97/bbl against the day’s low of $93.9/bbl.
US stocks turned lower on Tuesday as investors assessed Fed chair appointee Kevin Warsh and weighed leadership changes at Apple.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%, while the S&P 500 declined 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1%.
During his hearing, Warsh pushed back against concerns of political influence, saying he would not act as a “sock puppet” for Donald Trump, even as tensions between the White House and the Federal Reserve remain in focus.
Geopolitics also stayed in play, with Trump signaling fresh talks with Iran while warning military action could still be on the table as the ceasefire deadline nears.
Meanwhile, markets are also digesting a major leadership shift at Apple, where Tim Cook is set to step down, handing over the role to John Ternus.Kevin Warsh firmly pushed back against concerns over political influence, saying he would “absolutely not” act as a “sock puppet” for Donald Trump.During his Capitol Hill hearing, Warsh stressed that the president had never asked him to pre-commit to interest rate decisions — and made it clear he wouldn’t agree even if asked.The comments come as Warsh faces scrutiny over whether he can maintain the Federal Reserve’s independence while navigating pressure for lower rates.Apple is at a pivotal moment, with a leadership change, upcoming earnings, and a technical breakout all converging at once.The company said Tim Cook will step down on September 1, with hardware chief John Ternus set to take over. The transition comes just ahead of Apple’s next earnings report, which will be Cook’s final as CEO.On the charts, Apple has recently broken above a key downtrend line from its December highs, though the move is now being tested as the stock trades slightly lower.Unlike peers such as Meta and Tesla, Apple’s rising 200-day moving average offers a stronger technical backdrop, with key resistance seen near all-time highs and support just below the 200-day level.US retail sales rose sharply in March, with spending boosted by a surge in fuel costs, according to data from the US Commerce Department.Sales increased 1.7% for the month, beating expectations and accelerating from February’s 0.6% rise. Excluding autos, sales climbed 1.9%, also topping forecasts.The gains were driven largely by a 15.5% jump in gas station receipts as pump prices surged past $4 a gallon, while furniture and home furnishings rose 2.2% and online sales edged up 1%.The control group, used in GDP calculations, rose 0.7%, pointing to steady underlying consumer demand despite rising costs.Wall Street opened modestly higher on Tuesday, attempting a rebound after the previous session’s pullback, even as geopolitical uncertainty lingered.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 270 points, or 0.5%, at the open. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3%, recovering slightly after all three major indices ended marginally lower on Monday. The move follows the Nasdaq snapping its 13-day winning streak—its longest since 1992—in the prior session.The cautious uptick comes amid mixed signals on the geopolitical front. While tensions around Iran persist, a slight easing in oil prices offered some relief to investors. West Texas Intermediate futures dipped about 0.4% to hover above $89 per barrel, while Brent crude slipped 0.3% to near $95.Uncertainty, however, remains elevated. US President Donald Trump said Iran had “violated the ceasefire numerous times,” even as he indicated that negotiations could resume soon, potentially in Pakistan. With the temporary ceasefire set to expire late Wednesday, markets are closely watching whether diplomatic efforts will gain traction.Kevin Warsh heads to Capitol Hill for a closely watched Senate hearing, where he will need to convince lawmakers he can support lower interest rates without compromising the Federal Reserve’s independence.The hearing before the Senate Banking Committee is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including monetary policy, banking regulation, and Warsh’s personal financial background.A key focus will be how he navigates the line between political pressure and central bank autonomy—a “tricky communication” challenge, according to Bill English, a former senior Fed official.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.