US President Donald Trump said he is unlikely to extend the Iran ceasefire, increasing pressure on negotiations to end the war. Meanwhile, Tesla shares fell ahead of earnings as investors weighed slowing EV demand and AI strategy updates. Oil prices surged amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, while Bitcoin traded cautiously despite strong ETF inflows reflecting institutional demand. Trump looks to seal Iran deal President Donald Trump signaled that he is unlikely to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran, raising urgency around ongoing diplomatic efforts. Trump said the truce, announced on April 7, expires on “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding that it is “highly unlikely that I’d extend it” if no agreement is reached. “I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” the president said. He reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain blockaded, stating, “the Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed.” Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan for negotiations, potentially joined by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Tensions remain high, with Iran expressing skepticism about US intentions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US gov conduct remains” and that “Iranians do not submit to force.” Despite the standoff, officials indicated there remains a possibility of a deal in the coming days, even as disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and uranium stockpiles persist. Tesla stock falls ahead of earnings Shares of Tesla declined more than 2% on Monday , underperforming broader US markets as investors turned cautious ahead of its first-quarter results. The stock’s pullback follows a nearly 15% rebound last week, though shares remain down roughly 7% since late January. Wall Street expects earnings per share of 36 cents on revenue of $22.3 billion, compared with 27 cents per share and $19.5 billion a year earlier. Despite rising deliveries of about 358,000 vehicles in the first quarter, demand concerns persist. The removal of a $7,500 EV tax credit contributed to a 27% drop in all-electric vehicle sales, with EVs now accounting for less than 6% of new car sales. Tesla’s valuation continues to hinge on its artificial intelligence initiatives, particularly in robo-taxis and humanoid robotics. Analysts remain divided. Morgan Stanley maintained an Equalweight rating with a $415 target, while Jefferies raised its price target to $350, citing improved medium-term growth. Crude oil surges on Hormuz tensions Oil prices jumped sharply as geopolitical risks intensified in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. West Texas Intermediate rose 6.4% to $89.27 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed 5.97% to $95.78. The surge follows renewed hostilities, including the US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship and Iran’s decision to keep the strait closed unless sanctions are lifted. Shipping activity has slowed significantly, with only three vessels crossing in the past 12 hours compared to more than 20 ships on Saturday. Rystad Energy warned that a prolonged conflict could lead to a cumulative supply shortfall of 1.8 billion barrels this year if disruptions persist. Bitcoin rise as ETF inflows surge Bitcoin traded around $76,300, recovering from weekend losses but remaining within a cautious range. Analysts attributed the recent pullback from $78,000 to profit-taking, with prices now consolidating. "This price action highlights a familiar pattern in the current crypto market environment: strong responsiveness to macro catalysts, but a lack of sustained capital flows to maintain a trend," said Linh Tran of XS.com. Tran expects bitcoin to trade between $70,000 and $78,000 in the near term. Institutional demand remains robust. US spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $996.4 million in inflows last week , the highest since mid-January, extending a three-week streak totaling over $1.8 billion. The inflows were led by BlackRock’s IBIT, while Morgan Stanley’s MSBT also posted strong early demand. CryptoQuant noted the significance of the accumulation trend: “The latest accumulations by spot ETF firms are significant, as the last time they posted a figure this close was in April 2025, when they added 23,900 units.” Despite strong inflows, key resistance around $81,000 remains a hurdle, with macro factors such as Federal Reserve policy expected to influence the next leg of price action. The post Evening digest: Trump Iran warning, oil jumps; Tesla slips appeared first on Invezz
