Equities<\/p>\n
Global markets turned higher ahead of a crucial weekend that could pave the way for a near-term resolution to the Middle East war.<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement \u2060could soon \u200bbe reached to end the conflict and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire as a 10-day truce went into effect between Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump said the next meeting between U.S. and Iranian negotiators could take place at the weekend.<\/p>\n
Wall Street futures were in positive territory after slight gains on major U.S. markets yesterday.<\/p>\n
TSX futures edged higher after Canada\u2019s main stock market closed modestly down yesterday.<\/p>\n
On Wall Street, markets are watching earnings from Fifth Third Bancorp, State Street Corp. and Truist Financial Corp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think equity markets are remaining positive and some solid U.S. earnings have helped, but – and it\u2019s a big but – we need to see some concrete evidence that peace is going to last,\u201d said Nick Twidale, chief market strategist at ATFX Global.<\/p>\n
Wall Street\u2019s week ahead: Surging record-high U.S. stocks to wade deeper into earnings season<\/a><\/p>\n Overseas, the pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.29 per cent. Britain\u2019s FTSE 100 rose 0.4 per cent, Germany\u2019s DAX advanced 0.91 per cent and France\u2019s CAC 40 gained 0.69 per cent.<\/p>\n In Asia, Japan\u2019s Nikkei closed 1.75 per cent lower, while Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng slid 0.89 per cent. <\/p>\n Commodities<\/p>\n