After U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States and the Iranian regime might sign an agreement in the coming days to halt the war between the two sides, international stock markets rallied and global crude oil prices fell early on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, June 11, 2026, President Trump said that the signing of what he described as a "very strong memorandum of understanding" could take place in Europe in the near future.
Alongside this news from the White House, reports emerged about the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, contributing to the decline in oil prices. International benchmark Brent crude was trading at around $88 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was trading between $83 and $86 per barrel early on Friday.
Global equities were also on the rise. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 2.81 percent, South Korea's KOSPI rose 7 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.65 percent, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 1.54 percent to reach 8,633.20.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE index rose 1.55 percent to 10,463.65. The STOXX Europe index gained 0.54 percent to 621.53. Germany's DAX increased by 0.06 percent, while France's CAC index rose 0.48 percent to 8,200.80.
All major U.S. indices, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the technology-focused Nasdaq Composite, and the broad-based S&P 500, posted significant gains in early trading.
Meanwhile, traders and investors are awaiting the initial public offering of Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is set to be listed on the Nasdaq for the first time.
