Trump and Powell comments keep markets on edge.
U.S. stocks ended mostly lower on Monday as oil prices continued to climb, with investors reacting to comments from President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on the Iran conflict. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged slightly higher.
The move comes as markets continue to adjust to rising energy prices, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbing to around $104 per barrel and Brent crude trading above $108. Higher oil prices remain a key variable, especially as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz persist.
Investor sentiment was also shaped by mixed signals from policymakers. Trump suggested progress in negotiations with Iran but warned of potential escalation, while Powell acknowledged uncertainty around the economic impact of rising oil prices.
In rates markets, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to around 4.35% following Powell’s comments, reflecting some easing in rate expectations. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly, and gold prices edged higher.
Within equities, performance was mixed. Meta Platforms (META) and Eli Lilly (LLY) were among the notable gainers, while semiconductor names such as Micron (MU) and Western Digital (WDC) declined sharply, weighing on the broader tech sector.
The week is shortened by the Good Friday holiday, though investors will still be watching key data such as the March jobs report for further direction.
📊 Market Wrap
🧠 Analyst Notes
💬 Market Highlights
Apple Reiterated Buy on Strong Product Cycle Expectations
Apple (AAPL) was back in focus after Melius Research reiterated its Buy rating, citing a potentially powerful upcoming product cycle. Analysts believe Apple is entering one of its most lucrative rollout phases since the large-screen iPhone launch in 2014, supported by strong free cash flow generation.
Recently, the company has introduced several new products including the iPhone 17e, refreshed iPad Air, new MacBook Air and Pro, Studio Displays, MacBook Neo, and AirPods Max 2. While shares moved slightly higher in premarket trading, the stock remains down about 8% year-to-date, though still up roughly 12% over the past 12 months.
Qualcomm Faces Smartphone Headwinds Despite Diversification Efforts
Qualcomm (QCOM) was initiated with a Neutral rating by Goldman Sachs, reflecting a mixed outlook. While the company is expanding into growth areas such as automotive, PCs, and data centers, these gains are being offset by continued weakness in its core smartphone segment. The firm is losing share among key customers including Apple and Chinese OEMs, while also facing increasing competition from MediaTek.
Additionally, rising memory costs are expected to pressure smartphone demand in the near term. Goldman Sachs set a $135 price target, as Qualcomm shares have declined about 25% year-to-date.
Palo Alto CEO Warns AI Threats Rising, Calls for AI-Based Defense
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) CEO Nikesh Arora warned that rapidly advancing frontier AI models from companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are becoming increasingly capable of identifying vulnerabilities at scale. He emphasized that this represents a fundamental shift in cybersecurity, where attackers gain a structural advantage due to AI’s scalability and speed.
According to Arora, a single bad actor can now execute attacks that previously required entire teams, while defenders must remain constantly accurate. As a result, he argues that cybersecurity must evolve to incorporate AI-driven defenses, leveraging integrated data systems, sensors, and platforms to counter increasingly sophisticated AI-powered threats.
📅 Earnings Watch
Oil prices, geopolitical developments, and policy signals from both the White House and the Federal Reserve are likely to remain key drivers of market sentiment in the coming sessions.
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