Read more
8:42 pm · 18 May 2026

Daily Summary: Wall Street Under Pressure Ahead of Nvidia Earnings and Gulf Tensions

  • Wall Street saw a mixed session, with major U.S. indices showing a divergent picture. The Dow Jones held slightly above breakeven, the S&P 500 fell around 0.3%, while the Nasdaq dropped more than 0.7%.
  • Pressure on U.S. equities was mainly driven by weakness in the technology sector, which remains under the influence of expectations ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated quarterly earnings report due Wednesday after the close. The results are seen as crucial for sustaining the current AI-driven market narrative.
  • Nevertheless, the ongoing earnings season can be considered record-breaking. As it approaches its final phase, the vast majority of companies that have reported results have significantly exceeded market expectations.
  • Donald Trump stated that he expects a peace agreement with Iran to be reached soon, while at the same time emphasizing that he is not open to any concessions to Tehran.
  • The Trump administration maintains a hardline stance, warning Iran over further escalation while signaling that “key decisions” could be made in the near term, increasing market uncertainty and the risk of further military developments.
  • According to U.S. officials, Iran’s latest nuclear proposal has been deemed insufficient and not a meaningful step toward a deal, limiting progress in negotiations.
  • Meanwhile, Tehran argues that U.S. demands remain excessive, deepening the diplomatic stalemate and raising the risk of escalation if talks fail to produce a breakthrough.
  • Rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over peace negotiations and potential frameworks have pushed oil prices higher, with Brent crude breaking above $110 per barrel again.
  • Natural gas futures (Henry Hub) are also moving higher, with prices surpassing the $3 mark.
  • European trading, in contrast, took a more positive tone, with green dominating the major indices. The UK’s FTSE 100 rose over 1.2%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.4%, Germany’s DAX advanced 1.2%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 climbed more than 0.7%.
  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated he has no intention of stepping down and confirmed he will contest the upcoming elections.
  • Precious metals saw a mild correction, with gold hovering around $4,550 per ounce and silver trading near $77.5 per ounce.
  • Crypto markets remained under clear pressure, with major digital assets posting solid losses. Bitcoin fell more than 1.8% below $77,000, while Ethereum dropped over 3.5% to test the $2,100 level.
18 May 2026, 6:07 pm

NATGAS climbs on hotter weather outlook and tighter market balance

18 May 2026, 4:51 pm

US Open: Waiting Mode Ahead of Nvidia Report

18 May 2026, 4:09 pm

Will Wall Street rise further? S&P 500 companies report the strongest earnings growth since 2021

18 May 2026, 1:55 pm

Market Wrap: Energy Makes a Comeback⚡Investors Fear a New Escalation in the Middle East💥

The content of this report has been created by XTB S.A., with its registered office in Warsaw, at Prosta 67, 00-838 Warsaw, Poland, (KRS number 0000217580) and supervised by Polish Supervision Authority ( No. DDM-M-4021-57-1/2005). This material is a marketing communication within the meaning of Art. 24 (3) of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (MiFID II). Marketing communication is not an investment recommendation or information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse regulation) and repealing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directives 2003/124/EC, 2003/125/EC and 2004/72/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/958 of 9 March 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards for the technical arrangements for objective presentation of investment recommendations or other information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy and for disclosure of particular interests or indications of conflicts of interest or any other advice, including in the area of investment advisory, within the meaning of the Trading in Financial Instruments Act of 29 July 2005 (i.e. Journal of Laws 2019, item 875, as amended). The marketing communication is prepared with the highest diligence, objectivity, presents the facts known to the author on the date of preparation and is devoid of any evaluation elements. The marketing communication is prepared without considering the client’s needs, his individual financial situation and does not present any investment strategy in any way. The marketing communication does not constitute an offer of sale, offering, subscription, invitation to purchase, advertisement or promotion of any financial instruments. XTB S.A. is not liable for any client’s actions or omissions, in particular for the acquisition or disposal of financial instruments, undertaken on the basis of the information contained in this marketing communication. In the event that the marketing communication contains any information about any results regarding the financial instruments indicated therein, these do not constitute any guarantee or forecast regarding the future results.