Markets Wait and See as Trump Extends US-Iran Ceasefire; Oil and Stocks Fall
Oil prices and stock markets fell after President Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran while maintaining the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, causing investors to remain cautious.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 13:03
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 13:31 (28 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 21:17 (7h 45m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA, Hong Kong, 22nd) US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran at the last minute. However, with the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, investors assessed the likelihood of US-Iran peace talks, leading to a drop in oil prices and stock markets today.
According to an AFP report, just hours before the two-week US-Iran ceasefire was set to expire, Trump announced an indefinite extension, stating it was at the request of mediating Pakistan, and emphasized the need to give Iran's 'divided' leadership time to propose a plan.
While the US decided not to launch a new round of attacks on Iran for the time being, it continues to prevent Iranian ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the market in a wait-and-see mode until the situation clarifies.
Christopher Wong, a foreign exchange strategist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) in Singapore, said: 'Both the US and Iran may be trying to consolidate their bargaining chips, playing a game of seeing who will blink first.'
'Regardless of the outcome, the uncertainty in the process is likely to dampen market risk appetite, but once one side concedes, risk assets may rebound.'
After rising about 3% yesterday, the prices of the two major crude oil futures fell in volatile early trading today.
Following a mostly lower close for US stocks the previous day, major Asian stock markets also broadly fell today. (Translated by Lu Ying-tzu)
(CNA, Hong Kong, 22nd) US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran at the last minute. However, with the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, investors assessed the likelihood of US-Iran peace talks, leading to a drop in oil prices and stock markets today.
According to an AFP report, just hours before the two-week US-Iran ceasefire was set to expire, Trump announced an indefinite extension, stating it was at the request of mediating Pakistan, and emphasized the need to give Iran's 'divided' leadership time to propose a plan.
While the US decided not to launch a new round of attacks on Iran for the time being, it continues to prevent Iranian ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the market in a wait-and-see mode until the situation clarifies.
Christopher Wong, a foreign exchange strategist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) in Singapore, said: 'Both the US and Iran may be trying to consolidate their bargaining chips, playing a game of seeing who will blink first.'
'Regardless of the outcome, the uncertainty in the process is likely to dampen market risk appetite, but once one side concedes, risk assets may rebound.'
After rising about 3% yesterday, the prices of the two major crude oil futures fell in volatile early trading today.
Following a mostly lower close for US stocks the previous day, major Asian stock markets also broadly fell today. (Translated by Lu Ying-tzu)