Iran deal, inflation, AI all pull markets in different directions

U.S. markets showed divergent performance this week due to conflicting factors: falling oil prices from a tentative Iran ceasefire deal boosted the Dow and S&P 500, while rising inflation data and concerns over AI stock valuations caused the Nasdaq to drop. Inflation metrics, including a 4.1% annualized rise in headline PCE and 3.4% core PCE, reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will delay rate cuts. The first-quarter GDP estimate was revised upward to 2.1%, but analysts caution growth remains narrow.