Breakfast News: Markets Breathe Easy on Iran Truce

Breakfast News: Markets Breathe Easy on Iran Truce

April 22, 2026

Source: Image created by Jester AI.

1. Futures up as Iran Ceasefire Extended

Stock market futures were higher this morning, after President Trump said he’s extending the ceasefire until “discussions are concluded, one way or the other” – following a request from peace broker Pakistan, until “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.” In early trading, S&P 500 futures gained 0.5%, with Nasdaq futures up 0.7%.

• “I have … directed our military to continue the blockade”: There’s no letup of pressure on ships connected with Iran yet, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed after Iran accused the U.S. of breaking its commitments.
• “Biggest oil supply disruption on record” – Reuters: Despite the threat of immediate escalation subsiding, oil futures barely moved, held back by the growing uncertainty. Benchmark Brent Crude fell just 0.6% this morning to a fraction below $98, with WTI down 1% at around $89.

2. After-Market Results Roundup for Fool Recs

• Intuitive Surgical (ISRG 0.81%) gained a little over 1% overnight, on the back of a 23% jump in first-quarter revenue year over year (YoY). CFO Jamie Samath noted oil prices had not significantly impacted Q1, but are expected “to have a greater unfavorable impact in the remainder of the year” on the Rule Breakers recommendation.
• EQT (EQT 0.46%), beating the S&P 500 by 11% since its 2024 Hidden Gems rec, saw a modest price rise around 0.4% before the market opened, even though the natural gas producer posted a 97.5% YoY jump in non-GAAP earnings per share – with free cash flow up 69% and net debt falling $2 billion.
• Interactive Brokers (IBKR +0.85%), recommended in Stock Advisor by Team Hidden Gems, reached 4.75 million clients at the end of the quarter, up 31%, boosting non-GAAP revenue 20% YoY. We had no explicit full-year guidance, but investors should watch margins. The stock rose around 1% pre-market.

3. Today’s Selected Stock Advisor Earnings

• CME Group (CME 1.97%) reported new highs across the board in its first quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue climbing to $1.9 billion and net income reaching $1.2 billion. Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy said “Robust demand for our products drove Q1 average daily volume up 22% to a record 36.2 million contracts, including records in all six asset classes.” The stock barely moved in response.
• Lam Research (LRCX +2.53%) will reveal Q3 figures following the closing bell, with its stock price more than trebling over the past 12 months. Also recommended in SA by Team Rule Breakers like CME, the company is expected to deliver further AI-led growth in advanced chip packaging.
• ServiceNow (NOW 2.54%), recommended in SA by Team Hidden Gems, has Q1 results scheduled after market close, as the company faces competitive pressure in the drive to incorporate AI in its workflow software offerings. Fool contributing analyst Jeff Santoro last month noted “if you’re a company using a software for a long time … it’s really hard to rip it out and change it with something else.”

4. Your Take

Shopify (SHOP 1.37%) has dropped around 20% year to date in the recent SaaS sell-off.

Are you seeing it as a buying opportunity, holding steady if you own it, or using the weakness to trim or exit? What’s shaping your view?

Debate with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying!