Modi Speaks With Netanyahu as Middle East Situation Intensifies The two leaders discussed key regional developments and reviewed the India-Israel strategic partnership during a high-level telephone call, highlighting continued coordination amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

NASDAQ DOWN 76.37 POINTS, OR 0.29 %, AT 26,287.07 AFTER MARKET OPEN DOW JONES UP 107.80 POINTS, OR 0.20 PERCENT, AT 54,456.92 AFTER MARKET OPEN S&P 500 UP 6.77 POINTS, OR 0.09 PERCENT, AT 7,730.32 AFTER MARKET OPEN

PRESIDENT MASOUD PEZESHKIAN DREW ANGRY REACTIONS FROM IRANIANS AFTER REJECTING HIGHER ESTIMATES OF THOSE KILLED IN IRAN'S JANUARY PROTESTS AND CALLING THOSE WHO CITE SUCH FIGURES "TRAITORS" IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY.

Ford Unveils $30,000 Fathom EV Pickup to Challenge Affordable Electric Rivals Ford has unveiled the Fathom, a new electric pickup truck that will start at $29,945, including shipping, when it launches next year. Built on Ford's new universal EV platform, the Fathom is designed to deliver a lighter, more efficient, and lower-cost electric vehicle. Pre-orders are expected to begin in early 2027, with customer deliveries later that year. The Fathom marks Ford's latest effort to build an affordable and profitable EV capable of competing with low-cost Chinese electric vehicle makers such as BYD. The pickup will feature Ford's BlueCruise driver-assistance system and a high-resolution touchscreen with Apple Maps integration. The launch comes as Ford restructures its EV business following major losses and faces a challenging U.S. market where EV demand has weakened after the rollback of federal incentives.

Markets Pause Ahead of US Jobs Report and Iran Deal Developments Global markets traded cautiously as investors awaited Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report and monitored progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations. S&P 500 futures edged slightly higher while Nasdaq 100 futures declined, weighed down by weakness in technology stocks. AI-related shares also remained under pressure as investors reassessed the sector following Alphabet's bond sale announcement and disappointing earnings from memory chip makers Sandisk and Western Digital. Oil prices held near $80 a barrel after Iran announced an agreement with Oman on a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, although uncertainty over a broader U.S.-Iran deal kept investors cautious. Meanwhile, Treasury yields rose, gold gained on safe-haven demand, and markets remained focused on Friday's jobs report, which is expected to influence expectations for the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision.