Economic activity slowed down in March from a 41-month high according to the services Purchasing Manager\u2019s Index (PMI) from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The headline reading of 54 came in below the median estimate of 55 and February\u2019s 56.1, nonetheless, it remained well above the contraction-expansion threshold of 50. Despite the modest miss, customer demand accelerated strongly from 58.6 to 60.6, although robust transaction flows and heavier cost pressures drove the prices segment from 63 to 70.7. Production, backlogs and exports decelerated from 59.9, 55.9 and 57.2 to 53.9, 53.6 and 50.7. The strongest disappointment was the inflationary impulse depicted in the print, however, workforce reduction actions was also a headwind, as the employment category dropped from 51.8 to 45.2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wall Street Sniffs Out Potential Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With a few hours to go until President Trump\u2019s deadline tomorrow night, Washington and Tehran remain far apart on an agreement. However, Wall Street is sniffing out a potential ceasefire deal that drives a significant rally in stocks, as there\u2019s mounting political pressure domestically for gasoline costs to normalize and asset price volatility to subside in this midterm election year. But the Iranians don’t appear positioned to acquiesce to White House demands just yet and have been instead looking for a definitive end to the war, a lifting of sanctions and funds to support the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure. Against this tense backdrop, market moves are poised to be increasingly binary, with gains from here likely stemming from peace in the Middle East, while continued violence and heightened uncertainty is conducive to ongoing bumpiness in equity and fixed-income portfolios alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Roundup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Singapore Reports Mixed Consumption<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Singapore retail sales contracted 4.1% on a month over month (m\/m) basis but expanded 8.3% year over year (y\/y) in February, after reporting figures of 6% m\/m and -0.5% y\/y in January. Monthly results featured increases in just 5 of 13 categories, as the other, recreational goods, computer\/telecommunications, furniture and cosmetics segments rose 24.5%, 6.7%, 5.5%, 3.5% and 0.5%. Clothing, jewelry, and mini-market\/convenience stores served as the strongest headwinds, retreating 14.4%, 13.9% and 13.8% m\/m during the period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Stocks are on track to extend their winning streak to 4 consecutive sessions on hopes that Washington and Tehran may secure a 45-day ceasefire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":903,"featured_media":189728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12711,18,6,8,9,26,3],"tags":[],"contributors-categories":[13576],"class_list":["post-241143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ibkr-economic-landscape","category-macro","category-north-america","category-region","category-securities","category-text-articles","category-traders-insight","contributors-categories-interactive-brokers"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.interactivebrokers.com\/campus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/image-11.png\")
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