Wednesday Afternoon Coffee - Markets Update - 25 June 2025 - Markets Hover Near Highs as Middle East Ceasefire Boosts Oil, Fed in Focus

The Trade Academy Team
Jun 25
2 min read

Markets Update: Global equities traded near record highs Wednesday as geopolitical tensions eased and oil prices rebounded, with investor attention shifting back to U.S. inflation data and Federal Reserve policy signals.

Global Markets Roundup: 25 June 2025

Stocks Buoyed by Ceasefire, Powell Testimony

Markets found support from a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that showed signs of holding, defusing concerns over potential oil supply disruptions. At a NATO summit, President Donald Trump praised the swift resolution of the 12-day conflict, suggesting a new diplomatic path forward with Iran.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell returned to Capitol Hill for a second day of testimony, this time before the Senate Banking Committee, after addressing the House on Tuesday. Investors remained focused on Powell’s inflation outlook and potential rate decisions later this summer.

The S&P 500 ticked up 0.02% to 6,093.15, hovering near all-time highs alongside the Nasdaq Composite, which rose 0.31% to 19,973.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.26% to 42,975.59 as industrials lagged behind.

European shares reversed earlier gains, with the Stoxx 600 dropping 0.72%. In Asia, the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.85%. Globally, MSCI’s all-country index eased 0.08% to 902.34 after briefly hitting a record high.

Oil Rebounds as Geopolitical Risk Fades

Crude prices climbed after three straight sessions of losses. Brent crude rose 1.52% to $68.16 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 1.58% to $65.39. Both benchmarks had plunged more than 10% following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.

Mixed Moves in Currencies and Commodities

The U.S. dollar was mixed, strengthening 0.46% to 145.57 yen USDJPY and edging up 0.01% to 0.805 Swiss francs, while slipping 0.15% against the euro EURUSD to $1.1625. The dollar index DXY held flat at 97.95.

Gold showed little movement, with spot prices rising 0.01% to $3,323.99 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures dipped 0.07% to $3,315.00. Arabica coffee dropped below $3.15 per pound, its lowest since early December, as frost risks in Brazil diminished.

Grains Slip to 2025 Lows

Corn futures fell 0.8% to $4.12¾ per bushel, touching their lowest level since November 1. Soybeans slipped 0.3% to $10.31½, marking a fourth straight decline, while wheat eased 0.5% to $5.49½.

Outlook

With Middle East tensions easing and Powell’s testimony offering no major surprises, markets appear cautiously optimistic. Still, uncertainty over inflation and potential interest rate hikes could test investor sentiment in the weeks ahead.

Looking forward refer to the economic calendar below to see the upcoming events scheduled for today and the rest of the week.

General news - Information source from multiple newswires.

The article and the data is for general information use only, not advice!

The Trade Academy Team