{"id":63359,"date":"2026-06-18T04:08:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-rally-as-us-iran-peace-deal-signals-end-to-energy-crisis-snb-holds-rates\/63359\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T04:08:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:08:23","slug":"global-markets-rally-as-us-iran-peace-deal-signals-end-to-energy-crisis-snb-holds-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-rally-as-us-iran-peace-deal-signals-end-to-energy-crisis-snb-holds-rates\/63359\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Rally as US-Iran Peace Deal Signals End to Energy Crisis; SNB Holds Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>US and Iran sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)<\/strong> to end a four-month conflict, leading to the <strong>immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> and a <strong>1.6%\u20131.8% drop in global <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">oil prices<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Swiss National Bank (SNB) maintains its policy rate at 0.00%<\/strong>, marking one year of holding rates at zero while signaling an <strong>increased readiness to intervene in forex markets<\/strong> to curb Swiss franc appreciation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>US gasoline prices have fallen below $4 per gallon<\/strong> for the first time since March, providing significant relief to consumers as energy supply chains begin to stabilize.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BHP (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>) announces a $2.3 billion impairment charge<\/strong> for fiscal year 2026 related to its <strong>Jansen potash project<\/strong>, reflecting shifting valuation metrics in the commodities sector.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Israel remains in &quot;stubborn negotiations&quot; with the US<\/strong> regarding its military presence in southern Lebanon, with officials stating they have <strong>no intention of backing down<\/strong>, despite Iranian warnings that the occupation could nullify the new peace deal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>US-Iran Peace Deal Reopens Global Energy Arteries<\/h2>\n<p>The International Energy Agency (IEA) Chief Fatih Birol has hailed the new agreement between the United States and Iran as <strong>&quot;great news&quot; for global energy security<\/strong>. The deal, signed electronically by the US and Iranian presidents, aims to end a conflict that has choked global supply chains since February. Central to the agreement is the <strong>unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a vital waterway for global oil and gas transit.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the diplomatic breakthrough, <strong>crude oil prices retreated<\/strong>, with Brent falling toward <strong>$78.29 per barrel<\/strong>. Iranian officials also reported that <strong>89% of petrochemical units<\/strong> knocked offline during the conflict have already returned to production. <em>Market analysts suggest this rapid restoration of capacity could significantly ease global inflationary pressures in the second half of 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>SNB Holds Rates Amid &quot;Energy-Driven&quot; Inflation<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Swiss National Bank (SNB)<\/strong> kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at <strong>0.00%<\/strong> during its June meeting, a move widely anticipated by economists. While the bank acknowledged that inflation rose to <strong>0.6% in May<\/strong> due to higher fuel costs, it characterized the pressure as temporary. The SNB emphasized that <strong>medium-term inflationary pressure remains virtually unchanged<\/strong> and aligned with price stability targets.<\/p>\n<p>A critical component of the SNB\u2019s statement was its <strong>increased willingness to intervene in foreign exchange markets<\/strong>. The bank is actively working to counter any <strong>&quot;rapid and excessive appreciation&quot;<\/strong> of the Swiss franc, which has acted as a safe-haven asset during recent Middle Eastern volatility. <em>By maintaining a 0% rate, the SNB remains the most dovish among major central banks, contrasting with recent hikes by the European Central Bank.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Geopolitical Tensions Persist in Lebanon<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the progress between Washington and Tehran, the situation in the Levant remains precarious. A senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is holding <strong>&quot;stubborn negotiations&quot;<\/strong> with the US over its continued military presence in southern Lebanon. Israel has signaled it has <strong>no intention of backing down<\/strong> from its current positions, citing essential security interests.<\/p>\n<p>Iran has countered this stance, with its Foreign Ministry suggesting that a continued Israeli presence would <strong>nullify the memorandum of understanding<\/strong> signed with the US. <em>The friction points to a fragile transition period as negotiators prepare for a final round of talks in Switzerland on Friday.<\/em> Meanwhile, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth remarked that <strong>Europe should not be a dependency of the United States<\/strong>, signaling a potential shift in long-term transatlantic defense strategy.<\/p>\n<h2>Corporate and Industrial Developments<\/h2>\n<p>In the commodities sector, BHP (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>) shocked investors with a <strong>$2.3 billion impairment charge<\/strong> on its Jansen project for the 2026 fiscal year. The charge highlights the challenges facing large-scale mining projects amid fluctuating global demand and rising operational costs.<\/p>\n<p>In technology, <strong>China is fast-tracking R&amp;D for high-end semiconductors<\/strong> as part of its broader push for semiconductor self-reliance. This move comes as global trade dynamics continue to shift toward localized supply chains for critical technologies. <em>Investors are closely watching these developments as they could redefine the competitive landscape for global chipmakers in the coming decade.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways US and Iran sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end a four-month conflict, leading to the 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