Meta shares drop on fears US verdicts open door to deluge of lawsuits

Meta Platforms shares dropped 7% after two verdicts holding it liable for harm to young users sparked fears the social media giant may have to overhaul ‌the design practices that have underpinned its sprawling advertising business.

Oil settles up as investors fear further Middle East escalation

Crude futures closed higher, rebounding from the previous session’s losses, as hopes for a swift end to the war in the Middle East faded. The war has nearly halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about a fifth of the world’s crude ​oil and LNG supply

Wall Street advances as investors bet on Mideast de-escalation

NASDAQ Composite Daily Chart

Wall Street’s main indexes closed higher as oil prices fell while Iran reviewed a U.S. proposal to ‌end the war in the Middle East, feeding investor hopes for de-escalation in the fourth week of a war that has disrupted global energy flows and stoked inflation concerns.

Sterling steady as traders remain cautious about efforts to end Iran war

GBP/USD Daily Chart

Sterling was steady with traders cautious about efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran as they took stock of the conflict’s potential economic impact. The pound was last little changed against the dollar.