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Futures Slip as Geopolitical Tensions Overshadow Strong Bank Earnings

  US stock futures edged lower as investors balanced upbeat bank earnings against rising geopolitical unease tied to escalating tensions involving Iran. Contracts tied to the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all traded in the red, signaling a cautious start to the trading day. Major banks delivered solid quarterly results, with strong trading revenue and resilient consumer activity helping lift sentiment in the financial sector. Yet the optimism was tempered by concerns that potential US responses to developments in Iran could inject fresh volatility into global markets. Energy prices climbed as traders braced for possible disruptions. The pullback comes at a moment when investors are already navigating a crowded landscape of economic data, inflation readings, and policy uncertainty. With markets on edge, even strong corporate performance wasn’t enough to counter the broader risk-off mood.

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Israel Insists on Right to Act Against Hezbollah in Any Deal to End Fighting

Amid ongoing conflict, Israel's Defense Minister has firmly stated that the country insists on retaining the right to act militarily against Hezbollah in any agreement to end the fighting in Lebanon. This stance is likely to be contested by Lebanon, potentially complicating peace efforts.

The conflict, which erupted into full-scale war in September 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides. Lebanese officials have called for a return to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between the sides and called for Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces to withdraw from a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who has been working to broker a ceasefire, held a second round of talks with Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah. Hochstein mentioned that the talks had made "additional progress," and he plans to visit Israel to try to bring the conflict to a close.

The situation remains tense, with both sides showing little inclination to compromise, and the international community closely watching the developments.

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