Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, rising slightly to trade over 1 per cent up across key benchmarks. West Texas Intermediate crude was at USD 96.36, gaining USD 1.28 or 1.35 per cent, while Brent crude climbed to USD 102.40, up USD 1.13 or 1.12 per cent.
Oil prices inched marginally higher on Thursday but had declined sharply a day earlier as easing geopolitical tensions surrounding a potential U.S.-Iran deal weighed on energy markets, with crude falling more than 6 per cent in the previous session. Brent crude futures hovered around USD 102 per barrel, while WTI traded near USD 96.3 per barrel. In contrast to the drop in oil, precious metals saw upward momentum, gold was around USD 4,705 per ounce, and silver surged more than 5 per cent to approximately USD 78
Meanwhile, U.S. equities staged a strong rally, with major indices posting solid gains amid improving geopolitical sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 612 points, or 1.24 per cent, while the S&P 500 advanced 1.46 per cent to reach a fresh record high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq outperformed, rising 2.02 per cent and also setting a new all-time peak, as investors responded positively to expectations of easing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Markets surged on the heels of reports suggesting that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a multi-point framework agreement aimed at reducing conflict risks. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that a deal could be concluded within a week, though he said that military action remains a possibility if negotiations break down. The prospect of reduced geopolitical strain led to a sharp pullback in oil prices, while strong corporate updates added further momentum, DoorDash shares jumped 12 per cent on upbeat order forecasts, and Fortinet surged 16 per cent after improving its annual outlook.
Global markets mirrored the upbeat mood, with Europe's DAX, CAC 40, and FTSE 100 rising between roughly 2 per cent and 3 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 4.5 per cent. In contrast, South Korea's KOSPI slipped 1 per cent.
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. We suggest readers/investors to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)

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