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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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Trump’s Early Exit from APEC Hands Xi the Global Stage

    


                                             U.S. President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt departure from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, has left the spotlight firmly on Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring shifting dynamics in global economic leadership.

Trump concluded a whirlwind 24-hour visit with a bilateral meeting with Xi, where the two leaders struck a fragile trade truce aimed at easing tensions over tariffs and rare earth exports. However, instead of staying for the full two-day summit, Trump boarded Air Force One and returned to Washington, skipping the main leaders’ sessions that traditionally serve as a platform for U.S. presidents to project influence across the Asia-Pacific region.

In his absence, Xi Jinping seized the moment, delivering a keynote speech that positioned China as a defender of free trade and multilateralism at a time of global uncertainty. Xi emphasized the importance of supply chain stability and international cooperation, drawing applause from delegates and reinforcing Beijing’s narrative that it is stepping into a leadership role as Washington retreats.

The contrast was stark: while Trump’s “America First” approach has often meant disengagement from multilateral forums, Xi used the summit to meet with leaders from Canada, Japan, and Thailand, extending China’s diplomatic reach. Analysts noted that the split-screen image of Trump’s early exit and Xi’s high-profile arrival symbolized a broader shift in influence within the Asia-Pacific.

U.S. officials sought to downplay the optics, insisting that Washington remains “very committed” to APEC and highlighting the trade truce as a sign of progress. Yet, the decision to leave early has fueled concerns among allies that the U.S. is ceding ground to China in shaping the region’s economic future.

For many observers, the episode encapsulates the current geopolitical moment: a United States increasingly focused inward, and a China eager to fill the vacuum on the world stage.


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