4:25pm: Peace talks on hold
US stocks finished Tuesday’s session lower following reports that peace talks between the US and Iran have been put on hold. President Trump also signaled that the US does not intend to extend its temporary ceasefire with Iran, due to expire on Wednesday.
The Nasdaq, Dow Jones and S&P 500 all closed down 0.6% at 24,259 points, 49,149 points and 7,064 points, respectively.
3:50pm: Proactive NA headlines
- Abacus Global Management (NYSE:ABX) announced senior leadership changes, appointing Alexei Solomon as chief accounting officer and Elena Plesco as chief investment officer as it expands its management team.
- VivoPower PLC (NASDAQ:VIVO, FRA:51J) turned EBITDA profitable following its $41 million Norwegian data center acquisition, which significantly boosts revenue and earnings projections.
- Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp signed a non-binding agreement with a Chinese firm to advance development of its Rincon West lithium project through staged technical and financing work.
- NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) said its antiviral candidate NV-387 could help address rising global measles cases, citing recent large outbreaks and unmet treatment needs.
- Uranium American Resources Inc. (OTC:UARI) completed the acquisition of JAG Minerals, gaining full control of its US subsidiary to accelerate uranium and vanadium development projects.
- 1911 Gold Corp (TSX-V:AUMB, OTCQB:AUMBF, FRA:2KY) appointed Max Satel as CFO as it advances development of its True North gold project toward planned production in 2027.
- Silver Range Resources Ltd (TSX-V:SNG, OTC:SLRRF, FRA:8SR) expanded its Drum project land position in Utah significantly, increasing exploration potential across newly staked mineral claims.
- G Mining Ventures Corp (TSX:GMIN, OTCQX:GMINF, FRA:W97) reported steady Q1 production at its Tocantinzinho gold mine in Brazil, with output in line with expectations as it targets stronger results later in the year.
2:40pm: Market movers
- RTX Corporation reported a strong Q1 2026, beating expectations on both earnings and revenue thanks to broad strength across its defense and commercial aerospace segments.
- Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:LCID) shares jumped after new investment from Uber and renewed takeover speculation following recent fundraising activity.
- Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL, XETRA:HAL) posted better-than-expected Q1 results, driven by solid performance in both North American and international operations.
- DR Horton Inc (NYSE:DHI) exceeded revenue and profit expectations despite a year-over-year decline in net income and softer homebuilding sales.
- VivoPower PLC (NASDAQ:VIVO, FRA:51J) turned EBITDA profitable on a pro forma basis after acquiring Norwegian data center assets, significantly boosting its revenue outlook.
- UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH, XETRA:UNH) shares surged after beating Q1 expectations and raising its full-year profit forecast on improved cost management.
- 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) delivered an earnings beat as margin expansion and cost controls offset slightly weaker-than-expected revenue.
- GE Aerospace reported strong Q1 results, with earnings and revenue topping estimates on robust growth in its commercial engines and services business.
- Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp (TSX-V:LIT, OTCQX:LILIF) entered a non-binding agreement with a Chinese partner to advance development of its Rincon West lithium project in Argentina.
1:05pm: Lucid mum on takeover speculation
Shares of Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:LCID) rose 10.3% on Tuesday, with the electric vehicle maker drawing attention after a series of capital deals and renewed takeover speculation following recent fundraising activity.
The move came after Lucid disclosed that Uber Technologies will invest an additional $200 million in the company, bringing Uber’s total investment to $500 million.
The capital base was further strengthened by commitments from Ayar Third Investment Company, an affiliate of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is investing $550 million. In addition, Lucid priced a $300 million underwritten public offering.
Lucid has not commented on the rumors.
11:50am: Warsh calls for “fundamental policy reforms” at hearing
Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh on Tuesday urged the US central bank to “stay in its lane” and signaled support for a major overhaul of its policy framework, as Senate Democrats pressed him for additional details on his finances at a confirmation hearing.
Warsh, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Fed, said the central bank needed a new approach to persistent inflation but did not provide specifics on what that framework would look like.
Warsh has previously argued that the Fed bears responsibility for inflation overshoots regardless of their cause, though he has also suggested policymakers should “look through” tariff-related price pressures.
A note from Bank of America highlighted questions over how Warsh would balance competing risks, pointing to his past remarks on tariffs and inflation.
“Which Warsh will we get today?” the bank wrote, noting that while inflation pressures from tariffs may ease, new geopolitical risks could emerge. It added that investors would be watching whether Warsh maintains a dovish bias or acknowledges broader upside risks to inflation from overlapping supply shocks.
10:55am: Retail sales rise
US retail sales rose more than expected in the latest monthly report, underscoring resilient consumer demand despite weak sentiment readings and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.
Retail sales increased 1.7%, above estimates for a 1.4% gain. Excluding autos, sales rose 1.9%, compared with expectations of 1.5%, while the control group, which feeds directly into GDP calculations, climbed 0.7%, topping forecasts of 0.2%.
The stronger-than-expected data points to continued consumer spending momentum even as surveys show confidence at historically low levels.
Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management in Charlotte, said the report highlights a disconnect between sentiment and actual spending behavior.
“It’s true that people can both be unhappy with higher prices (and higher mortgage rates) and continue to buy,” he said. “As long as people are employed then they are going to keep spending, so the labor market is a much more important indicator in this economy than almost anything else.”
10am: UnitedHealth drives Dow higher at open
Wall Street has started on the front foot, boosted by some solid earnings reports.
The Dow Jones has opened 0.7% higher, led by UnitedHealth, up over 9% on the back of its earnings earlier.
The S&P 500, where the same company is also at the top of the leaderboard, and Nasdaq have both inches up 0.3%.
Other top risers on the S&P include a broad range of companies, including rival health insurer Humana, and homebuilder DR Horton, which climbed 8.4% on the back of its own earnings beat.
Halliburton and 3M are up strongly on the back of earnings, too, rising 4.5% and 2.6%.
8.30am: US stocks to open higher, led by earnings
US stocks are set for a firmer open on Tuesday, with investors provided with more earnings to chew over and a Senate grilling for new Fed chief Kevin Warsh later to distract them from waiting for any news on Iran.
Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones futures were up 0.6%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were pointing to gains of 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively.
In the previous session, Wall Street equities pulled back from record levels, with the mood dampened by concerns that Iran was refusing to engage in peace talks with the US in Pakistan.
The Nasdaq slipped 0.3% to 24,404, while the S&P eased 0.2% to 7,109 and the Dow Jones was just below flat at 49,443.
Oil prices were holding steady, with markets awaiting developments around US-Iran peace talks ahead of the ceasefire deadline tomorrow evening.
Iranian state media has reported today that no delegation has yet set off for Pakistan for the proposed peace talks
Market analyst Fawad Razaqzada at FOREX.com notes that oil markets are "holding steady, ready to potentially resume higher on any signs of a major re-escalation".
He said the two sides "appear to have drifted further apart since Friday, and there are now question marks over whether the planned meeting will take place on Wednesday", though Tehran and Islamabad are only a 3-4 hour flight away.
"One key detail to watch is the potential arrival of US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad—if he turns up at all. Trump had suggested yesterday that he was already en route, though that proved premature. There are now indications he may arrive later today or overnight, which would at least point to talks going ahead."
Corporate earnings have a strong defence feel, with GE Aerospace, RTX Corporation and Northrop Grumman, along with United Health and 3M.
United reported lower earnings than last year, but better than expected, with the shares up almost 8% in pre-market trading, which will support the Dow.
GE Aerospace reported EPS of $1.86, above the $1.81 expected, but new full-year guidance was slightly below expectations. However, the shares were down 3.3% pre-market.
RTX handily beat earnings estimates, $1.78 to $1.52, and raised its full-year adjusted sales and adjusted EPS outlook. Shares are down 0.7% pre-market, though.
Later, investors will watch the confirmation hearing of Federal Reserve chair-designate Kevin Warsh, with markets alert to signals on interest rates and central bank independence.
Based on prepared and leaked remarks, Warsh is expected to emphasise the importance of central bank independence yet insist that politicians giving their views on interest rates won’t affect this.