US markets fall as Middle East concerns offset earnings optimism
U.S. stocks closed lower on Tuesday, with early gains evaporating as renewed concerns about the Middle East war outweighed initial optimism over a round of solid corporate earnings. Iran could attend talks with the United States in Pakistan if Washington abandons its policy of pressure and threats, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that Tehran rejects negotiations aimed at surrender. Equities extended declines late in the session after reports that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had called off his trip to Pakistan for peace talks. Stocks have rallied in recent weeks on the belief that a peace deal could be on the horizon. "There's two things going on - what is the resolution going to be or the path going to be for Iran, but in the meantime if that wasn't there, you've got really good expectations for earnings coming in and the companies are pretty much reporting that way, and the economy is doing fine," said Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at...