Squawk Box Europe Express

President Trump extends his deadline for attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure until April 6th, as talks reportedly continue. The US leader insists Tehran is desperate to end the war, even as it rejects the first US proposal. Oil prices ease and Asian stocks come well off session lows, as investors digest Trump's deadline extension and Iran's move to allow some tankers through the Strait. Futures in Europe and on Wall Street point higher, following Thursday's sell-off. Waiting on Rubio - the US Secretary of State is set to join his G7 peers in France for a second day of talks - as EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says Russia's involvement in Iran reflects how the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are connected. Anthropic reportedly eyes an IPO as soon as October, as the AI player wins a preliminary injunction in its legal fight with the Department of Defence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran says it is reviewing a U.S. ceasefire proposal but firmly denies President Trump's claims that talks are underway with Tehran desperate to strike a deal. Stocks fall and oil rises as investors reassess the odds of a ceasefire with former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein telling CNBC investors should tread carefully. G7 foreign ministers arrive for a key summit in France, as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine dominate the agenda. NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation tells CNBC the military alliance is confronting new forms of warfare and urges Europe to take on a greater leadership role.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. government has reportedly provided Iran with a peace proposal even though Tehran continuously denies direct talks are happening. President Trump voices optimism that a deal can be struck. Oil prices fall as a result with Brent settling near the $100-mark while European and U.S. futures move to the green on hopes of de-escalation in the Gulf. Shell CEO Wael Sawan has warned that Europe could face potential fuel shortages by next month should the conflict continue while TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné told CNBC at CERAWeek in Houston that refining margins are soaring to unprecedented levels.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran denies it is in negotiations with Washington as President Trump announces he has postponed airstrikes on critical power plants and energy facilities in the country for five days and claims a peace deal could be close. Oil prices rebound following an initial drop in the price of Brent to below $100 for the first time in almost a fortnight on the back of Trump’s comments. US and European futures point south, giving back some of Monday’s gains. Apollo Global caps withdrawals from a $25bn private credit fund after investors sought more than 11 per cent of the total following its first monthly loss in more than three years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. and Iran trade threats with President Trump warning he will target power stations should the Strait of Hormuz not be reopened. The Iranian leadership has hit back saying it will target energy and water supply facilities in the Gulf. South Korea’s KOSPI leads losses in Asia while European futures are in the read. Crude prices continue to rise with WTI surpassing the $100-mark once again. And precious metals are also on the decline with last week’s gold price slide the largest in more than 30 years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel continues to increase air strike on Iran overnight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country’s uranium enrichment capabilities have been destroyed but signals the possibility of a ground invasion. Central banks across Europe defer any possibility of rate cuts with the ECB and BoE warning that the Middle East conflict has blurred the inflation outlook and will push up energy prices. European Council leaders plead for warring parties in the Gulf to cease attacks on key energy facilities as Hungary vetoes a €90bn loan to Ukraine over halted oil shipments. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran strikes Qatar’s main LNG facility – one of the world’s biggest – following an Israeli attack on the giant South Pars gas field. President Trump has warned of stern intervention should retaliatory strikes continue. Equities in Europe are back in the red following a two-day winning streak. The Federal Reserve holds rates steady and signalling a single cut to come this year. Chairman Jerome Powell says it is too early to tell what impact the war in Iran could have on inflation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We hear exclusively from French finance minister Roland Lescure who says his country would be willing to aid the U.S. in securing the Strait of Hormuz but would require the conflict to de-escalate first. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has warned the nation faces the possibility of higher inflation and borrowing costs due to the Iran war but tells CNBC it is on a far stronger footing today to absorb the shocks due to her fiscal reforms. Tehran fires a barrage of missile attacks at Tel Aviv following the killing of Iran’s senior-most security chief Ali Larijani. In the U.S., top counter-terrorism director Joe Kent resigns over the decision to go to war.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump looks to postpone his China trip, saying his focus remains on the conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. leader also hits out at European allies after several reject his demand to help escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. And in markets, futures point to a day in the red on Wall Street, with Trump again calling on the Fed to cut rates ahead of its meeting starting today, after the Reserve Bank of Australia fires the starting gun on a week of central bank action by tightening policy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump calls on allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz with exports through the vital oil chokepoint remaining effectively halted, while European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticizes the U.S. government’s decision to lift some energy sanctions on Russia. Oil prices tick higher as the disruption continues, with traders looking to navigate price volatility. Investors look ahead to a massive week of central bank action, as lenders across the globe grapple with fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. Unicredit launches a bid to raise its stake in Commerzbank above the 30% level but says it doesn’t want to take control of the German lender.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil settles about $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 after Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledges to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent say the U.S. Navy will be helping to escort tankers out of the Gulf once military conditions are met. The U.S. government has sought to further ease prices by lifting sanctions on Russian oil already in transit. Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrey Kelin, tells CNBC that Russia stands by Iran and that the U.S. and its allies are solely to blame for the Gulf crisis. Rate cut expectations are dampened as concerns over a prolonged conflict send the dollar and yields higher while equities fall into the red.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil prices have pulled back from $100 a barrel following several attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf. Two tankers have been reportedly attacked overnight in Iraqi waters. The IEA announces its largest strategic reserve release of 400m barrels but energy markets remain wary. President Trump and the IEA’s Fatih Birol vow to keep oil flowing. The White House launches a probe into several key trading partners including the EU and China which, under section 301, permit tariffs to counter unfair commerce practices. And in autos news, BMW enjoys a Q4 earnings beat despite tariffs affecting its FY guidance.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil prices swing after the White House says the U.S. Navy did not escort a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The denial corrected a now-deleted social media post by Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The IEA reportedly proposes the largest-ever release of oil reserves as the Iran conflict continues to restrict the movement of global supplies. In autos news, Porsche narrowly misses FY sales expectations and says it will now streamline itself, pivoting away from EVs and overhauling its product line-up. Meanwhile, Renault Group CEO, François Provost, tells CNBC he still believes electric cars are the future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. President Donald Trump hails the war effort in Iran as ‘very complete’ and has suggested some oil sanctions could be eased to shore up confidence in the market. However, Trump warned Iran could be struck even harder should it attempt to further disrupt supply. G7 energy ministers are set to discuss a potential release of strategic oil reserves. The U.S. is reportedly planning for up to 3-4 million barrels to be made jointly available. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has warned of ‘catastrophic consequences’ should the conflict continue to disrupt supply. And in autos news, Volkswagen falls short of FY sales expectations but predicts margin improvements in 2026.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil prices surge to almost $120bbl overnight before falling back to $108bbl. President Trump says he does not believe the market shock will be prolonged. The G7 reportedly considers a joint release of oil from strategic reserves while reports suggest that Saudi Aramco may offer oil on the spot market. The Nikkei and Kospi lead Asian equity losses while Europe and Wall Street look set for continued sell-off pressure. Iran has chosen Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali, as the country’s Supreme Leader to defy President Trump selection wishes.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After six days of conflict in the Middle East, President Trump says the Iranian regime is desperate to end the fighting but the country’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, refutes the claims. Washington provides India with a 30-day waiver to buy Russia oil in a bid to settle global supply concerns and stabilise rising energy prices with U.S. crude trading at just over $80bbl. We hear from Bundesbank President and ECB governing council member Joachim Nagel who says the impact of the war in Iran is showing early signs of economic strain in Europe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global equities stage an impressive comeback as traders absorb fears about the conflict in Middle East. Tech and chip stocks lead the way in Asia with South Korea’s Kospi rebounding to potentially posting its best session in 18 years. Crude also claws back losses despite concerns of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has vowed to protect tankers passing through the Persian Gulf. In Europe, futures are cautious with the Stoxx 50 set to open more than 1 per cent lower. At the NPC in Beijing, the CCP sets its lowest growth outlook in more than three decades, citing ‘severe strain’ on free trade and the global economic forecast.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Equity markets in Asia nose-dive with South Korea’s Kospi posts its worst session in history. Conflict in the Middle East intensifies fears of inflation causing investors to dump tech and semiconductor stocks. The U.S. and Israel continue to strike Iran with notable damage to IRGC headquarters and the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. President Trump has raised questions over who would succeed the Islamic regime. Trump has also offered to provide risk insurance for vessels using the Persian Gulf and said the U.S. Navy would help escort them out of the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to ease climbing global oil and gas prices.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. strikes at more than 1,000 Iranian sites including IRGC facilities while Tehran retaliates by hitting the U.S. embassy in Riyadh. President Trump says he is prepared to extend the conflict if necessary. Oil and gas shipping prices surge as Iran claims it has blocked the Strait of Hormuz and vows to hit any vessels attempting to pass through. Qatar, meanwhile, has said it is suspending LNG production. Asian markets suffer a day in the red with the Kospi falling by more than 7 per cent. U.S. and European futures indicate continued selling later today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran intensify as Tehran retaliates hitting targets across the region including American and British bases. President Trump says the attacks could last for several weeks. Crude prices surge as supply through the Strait of Hormuz come under threat. Futures on both sides of the Atlantic point to a sell-off as investors digest events in the Middle East. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is expected to lead declines on Wall Street.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.