Market Talk Roundup: Latest on U.S. Politics

Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0334 ET - Brent crude rises above $90 a barrel as prospects for a near-term peace deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz fade. In early European trading, the global oil benchmark is up 0.1% to $91.04 a barrel, while WTI futures gain 0.5% to $84.95 a barrel. "President Trump indicated little interest in extending the expired agreement with Iran, while major differences remain over Hormuz," says Soojin Kim from MUFG. Meanwhile, shipping security risks remain. Yemen's Iranian-allied Houthi rebels are escalating attacks along the country's Red Sea coast, pushing closer to the key Bab al-Mandeb Strait. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0256 ET - The dollar recovers slightly as oil prices rise after President Trump said he is not seeking an extension of the U.S. ceasefire with Iran which expired Monday. Trump also threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf nation "gets in the way." The news provides some support to the dollar due to its safe-haven role and America's position as a net energy exporter. It also increases the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates. However, markets are no longer fully pricing a rate rise by year-end after recent weak data. The recent scaling back of rate-rise bets sent the DXY dollar index to a 10-week low of 99.294 Monday. The index is last up 0.1% at 99.673. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

2239 ET - The Singapore dollar consolidates against its U.S. counterpart in the Asian session but may be weighed by rising oil prices. Pricier oil tends to pressure the currencies of energy-importing countries such as Singapore. "The 60-day U.S.-Iran truce expired without extension, with [President] Trump ruling out further negotiations and threatening military action against Oman over [Strait of] Hormuz disputes," CIMB Treasury and Markets Research analysts say in a report. They note the recent surge in the price of Brent crude oil, which has risen beyond the $91-a-barrel level. The U.S. dollar is little changed at 1.2776 Singapore dollars, according to LSEG data. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

1949 ET - Australian stocks look set to fall after President Trump's threat to bomb Oman sent oil prices higher. Local stock futures are down by 0.4% ahead of Tuesday's session, suggesting that the S&P/ASX 200 could be on course for a fifth straight decline. The benchmark index is coming off a 0.5% fall. Ahead of the open, BHP reported a 9% increase in annual net profit and an even bigger gain in underlying earnings. Hearing-implant maker Cochlear slashed its dividend on an 18% fall in annual profit. CSL swung to a deep annual loss on asset writedowns, and Reliance Worldwide said it had agreed to a takeover offer by the private equity arm of Brookfield Asset Management. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

1159 ET - Failing a deal between Ottawa and Washington, the imposition of a new U.S. tariff of 50% on certain Canadian goods could thwart Canada's recent rebound, says Bradley Saunders, economist at Capital Economics. The imposition of these tariffs, as early as this week, could trigger a tit-for-tat trade row with new Canadian tariffs, Saunders says. A deal also presents setbacks for Canada, Saunders says, arguing federal officials might have to give up "much of its already-limited leverage" to avert 50% duties. Canada is under pressure to find a resolution, Saunders adds, citing the deterioration in private-sector investment and a lack of progress on trade diversification. No deal would weigh on near-term growth although a recession looks unlikely, he says. (paul.vieira@wsj.com; @paulvieira)

1026 ET - U.S. and Canadian officials are in talks to either delay or scrap Trump administration plans to impose 50% tariffs on certain Canadian imports. The result of those talks will influence price growth and affect near-term inflation data, says Canadian research firm Signal49. The new 50% duty is set to kick in on Wednesday, failing a deal. Should no pact emerge, "consumer prices in Canada could be pulled in many directions," Signal49 says, citing the possibility of retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa. Signal49 says weaker domestic demand, stemming from job losses, could pull prices down, while a weaker C$ could elevate the cost of Canada's imports. (paul.vieira@wsj.com; @paulvieira)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 18, 2026 03:34 ET (07:34 GMT)