Premarket: Global stocks steady, dollar firms as U.S.-Iran talks hit stalemate

Stocks were flat and the dollar strengthened as investors worried U.S.-Iran talks had stalled, leaving the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed and pushing oil prices higher. The setup is risk-off and geopolitically driven, with the potential for broad market spillovers through energy, FX, and sentiment if the disruption persists.

Analysis

Stocks were flat and the dollar strengthened as investors worried U.S.-Iran talks had stalled, leaving the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed and pushing oil prices higher. The setup is risk-off and geopolitically driven, with the potential for broad market spillovers through energy, FX, and sentiment if the disruption persists.