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Stocks get a bump on CNN report that Iran is willing to listen to proposals to end war

Stocks got a small bump midday Tuesday as CNN reported on what appeared to be a softening in Iran’s position toward ending the war in the Middle East. 

From the CNN report: 

“An Iranian source told CNN on Tuesday that there had been outreach between the United States and Tehran and that Iran is willing to listen to sustainable proposals to end the war.

There has been outreach between the United States and Iran, initiated by Washington, in recent days, but nothing that has reached the level of full-on negotiations, the source said. Messages have been received through various intermediaries to scope out whether an agreement to end the war can be reached.

Markets had zoomed Monday as President Trump said there had been discussions between the two nations, but they gave back some of their gains after Iran starkly denied the claim. Markets seem to be reading this new reporting as a softening of Iran’s position.

The S&P 500 was nearly flat around 11:10 a.m. ET, after being down earlier in the day.

“An Iranian source told CNN on Tuesday that there had been outreach between the United States and Tehran and that Iran is willing to listen to sustainable proposals to end the war.

There has been outreach between the United States and Iran, initiated by Washington, in recent days, but nothing that has reached the level of full-on negotiations, the source said. Messages have been received through various intermediaries to scope out whether an agreement to end the war can be reached.

Markets had zoomed Monday as President Trump said there had been discussions between the two nations, but they gave back some of their gains after Iran starkly denied the claim. Markets seem to be reading this new reporting as a softening of Iran’s position.

The S&P 500 was nearly flat around 11:10 a.m. ET, after being down earlier in the day.

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Jefferies rises after report of potential takeover from Japan’s SMFG

Jefferies jumped 10% in premarket trading on Tuesday after the Financial Times reported that Japan’s second-largest lender, Sumimoto Mitsui Financial Group, is working on plans for a possible takeover of the US investment bank.

While any potential move is not imminent, SMFG has assembled a small team to prepare if a continued drop in Jefferies’ share price creates an opportunity, according to the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter. Jefferies’ stock has fallen roughly 40% since the start of the year before today’s move, bringing its market cap to around $8 billion — a fraction of Tokyo-listed SMFG, which is worth ~$124 billion.

SMFG’s banking subsidiary already holds a minority stake in Jefferies after taking a 5% position in 2021, which was then increased to ~20% last September with a $912 million investment. The two banks have also recently launched a joint venture in Japan, which SMFG is “treating as a test case for integration and a form of due diligence,” the FT reported.

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