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Markets Hold Steady as Iran Deal Hopes Lift Sentiment — April 14, 2026

MoneySavings.ca  ·  Daily Market Brief Tuesday, April 14, 2026  ·  Morning Edition Markets hold steady as Iran deal hopes lift sentiment S&P 500 Futures 6,936 ▲ +0.20% Nasdaq Futures 25,647 ▲ +0.40% Dow Futures 48,501 ▲ +0.16% WTI Crude $96.31 ▼ −2.80% easing North American markets are poised for a steady open on Tuesday as investors grow cautiously optimistic about a potential U.S.-Iran agreement. U.S. stock futures held firm after the major averages posted strong gains the previous session, with the S&P 500 fully erasing its war-driven losses. Oil prices offered some relief for consumers, with WTI crude pulling back nearly 3% to around $96.31 per barrel — easing from Monday's spike above $104. Asian markets also opened higher overnight, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 2.43% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gaining 1%, both t...
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Hungary Pushes for Special Exemption from US Oil Sanctions

President Donald Trump and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that he will seek an exemption from newly imposed U.S. sanctions on Russian oil during his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump on November 7. The sanctions, which target Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, are designed to curb Moscow’s revenues but could also impact foreign buyers, including Hungary, which remains heavily reliant on Russian crude.

Orbán emphasized that Hungary’s landlocked geography leaves it dependent on pipeline networks for energy supplies, making diversification far more difficult than for coastal nations. He argued that without Russian oil, Hungary’s energy security would be at risk and domestic prices could surge. “We have to make the Americans understand this peculiar situation,” Orbán said, stressing that Hungary’s reliance on pipelines is not a matter of choice but necessity.

While most European Union states have sharply reduced or halted Russian fossil fuel imports since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hungary has maintained — and in some cases increased — its intake of Russian oil. Analysts estimate that 86% of Hungary’s crude oil now comes from Russia, up from 61% before the war. This stance has often placed Budapest at odds with EU partners, who are working toward a full ban on Russian energy by 2028.

In addition to energy talks, Orbán signaled that he hopes to conclude a broader economic agreement with the United States during his Washington visit. The discussions are expected to test the balance between Hungary’s strategic ties with Russia and its commitments as a NATO and EU member.

Orbán’s push for an exemption underscores the tensions between energy security and geopolitical alignment in Central Europe. Whether Washington will grant Hungary special treatment remains uncertain, but the outcome could set a precedent for other nations still dependent on Russian energy.


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