International News 09 April 2026
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Gold Rises as Markets Reassess Risks After Trump Halts Iran Strikes
Gold prices climbed to their highest level in nearly three weeks on Wednesday (April 8, 2026), as markets reassessed near-term risks after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to pause bombing and military strikes on Iran for two weeks, easing concerns over energy-driven inflation. According to Reuters, spot gold rose 2.5% to US$4,819.25 per ounce as of 05:34 GMT. Earlier in the session, bullion had surged more than 3% to its highest level since March 19. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures for June delivery advanced 3.5% to US$4,847.70.
US–Iran Agree Two-Week Ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz Set to Reopen?
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reached less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement, announced by Trump on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), marks a sharp shift after he had previously threatened to destroy Iran’s critical infrastructure if the vital shipping lane remained closed. The deal was brokered through mediation led by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has also invited U.S. and Iranian delegations to continue talks in Islamabad this Friday.
Vietnam Welcomes FTSE Russell Emerging Market Status, Aims to Attracts Foreign Inflows
Vietnam’s capital market authority stated that the confirmation of its emerging market status by FTSE Russell represents a key milestone for the country’s financial sector, with expectations of attracting greater foreign investment. FTSE Russell also announced that Vietnam will be upgraded from a frontier market to an emerging market starting in September, with Vietnamese equities to be gradually incorporated into global indices. This development is expected to draw large-scale international investment inflows, enhance market liquidity, and strengthen Vietnam’s position within the global financial system,” the State Securities Commission of Vietnam said in a statement, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday (April 8, 2026).