Europe tops global ranking of dynamic and sustainable cities – here's why
London, New York and Paris have been named the world's most dynamic and liveable cities. This is according to a new ranking of global cities that highlights Europe's ability to balance sustainability and growth in its urban centres.
The IESE Cities in Motion index looks at 183 cities in 92 countries, and ranks them in nine key areas: human capital, social cohesion, economy, governance, environment, mobility and transportation, urban planning, international profile and technology. It's different from other indices in that it takes into account so many metrics – more than 100 – on everything from ease of starting a business to number of museums and art galleries, internet speed and commute times.
The idea is to systematically gauge what makes a city the sort of place where people want to live and work. This is important not just for the quality of life of habitual residents, but also because location is vital for attracting global talent, especially among younger generations.
The top 10 cities in the 2025 edition were London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, Washington DC, Copenhagen, Oslo, Singapore and San Francisco.
The top three all do particularly well in human capital, which includes features like educational and cultural institutions. They also score highly on international profile, which looks at indicators of global interest, such as the number of airport passengers and hotels.
Beyond those two areas, London cements its status as a global hub of high-level innovation and development, also standing out for governance and urban planning. The UK capital is somewhat weaker in social cohesion, where it came 20th, though not nearly as bad as second-place New York, which ranked 127th out of 183 cities in this category – among the lowest of developed countries. New York does, however, stand out for its economic performance, and does very well in mobility and transportation.
Paris, meanwhile, performs well across many metrics, including urban planning as well as international profile and human capital.
We've been calculating the index for a decade now, and European cities consistently perform well. This year, five of the top 10 cities – London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Oslo – are European.
We adjust the index on a regular basis in order to make sure that we're measuring what's relevant. For example, this year we introduced new metrics on women's leadership, renewable energy sources and green spaces, as well as on availability of coworking spaces.
There's no single reason behind Europe's success, but there are patterns. Its large global metropolises, such as London and Paris, offer advanced technology, international communities and diversified economies in services, technology and finance. They have generally stable political systems and reasonable urban planning, along with advanced public and private transport options. However, while highly diverse, they also suffer from income inequalities.
In addition to these mega cities, Europe is home to a large number of sustainable and culturally vibrant cities of many sizes. All the Spanish cities included in the index (10 in total, including Madrid and Barcelona) are part of this cluster.
These are mature economies that prioritise sustainability over rapid growth, seeking to balance liveability and stability. They also have steady political systems, a commitment to green policies and urban planning strategies that give weight to sustainable infrastructure that enhances liveability.
They do well in social cohesion, with high levels of integration and relatively low levels of inequality. In terms of technology, they are steady adopters but they are not, for the most part, trailblazing innovators.
It's also interesting to note the performance of North American cities, which show that economic might and technological prowess don't always translate into more liveable metropolises. US cities dominate the economic dimension – eight of the top 10 in economic performance are American – but there's not a single American city in the top 10 for social cohesion or environment. They do well in our ranking – New York, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston are all in the top 20 – as would be expected of high-income cities, but their performance in different areas varies widely.
Meanwhile, developing countries continue to struggle to break into the top ranks. In Latin America, the highest-ranked city is Santiago (89th), followed by Buenos Aires (117th) and Mexico City (118th). In Africa, Cape Town (156th) is the top-ranked city. At the very bottom of the ranking are Lagos, Lahore and Karachi.
In this tenth edition, we are starting to see greater homogeneity of cities, suggesting that urban planners are learning how to confront similar social, economic and geopolitical challenges. Here are some of our recommendations for how they can improve further:
Adaptive and participatory planning: Cities should adopt an approach to planning that is both inclusive and adaptive. This means actively engaging residents, businesses and organisations in identifying priorities, and establishing mechanisms to respond to unexpected developments.
Sustainability as a core principle: A commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation in urban planning is key. Cities should pursue policies that reduce carbon emissions, such as adopting renewable energy. Their strategies must also factor in environmental impact and preparedness for extreme climate events, such as wildfires or floods.
Economic and social resilience: To address economic inequalities and a lack of social cohesion, cities should implement policies that foster economic equity, such as incentives for small businesses and job training programs that improve access to employment. They should also develop community support networks that strengthen social ties and promote the integration of vulnerable groups.
Inclusive technology: To close the digital divide, cities should develop a robust technological infrastructure that ensures connectivity across all urban areas and provides digital skills training for residents. Open data platforms that enhance transparency and encourage citizen participation can play a key role in this.
International cooperation: Cities should actively participate in international networks to foster mutual learning and best practices, and to collaborate on joint projects.
Continuous measurement: Metrics are essential, both to track progress and to benchmark against other cities with similar characteristics. While cities should develop their own performance dashboards with relevant indicators, our index can serve as an initial framework for identifying key dimensions and the most important indicators.
Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos académicos.
Lee mas:
'Urban form' and the housing crisis: Can streets and buildings make a neighbourhood more affordable?
Urban planning is often overlooked as a career – here are some ways to change that
Spain housing crisis: slow construction is to blame, not foreign buyers
Las personas firmantes no son asalariadas, ni consultoras, ni poseen acciones, ni reciben financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y han declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado anteriormente.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Report: Maserati Under Threat of Being Sold by Parent Company
According to a new report published by Reuters, the storied Italian performance powerhouse, Maserati, may be headed toward an uncertain future. The newswire states that "two sources familiar with the matter" told them that parent company Stellantis is exploring a potential sale of the Trident as part of a broader review of its massive portfolio of 14 distinct automotive brands. Discussions regarding Maserati began before Antonio Filosa was named the automaker's new CEO last month. Filosa's first day as CEO of Stellantis is Monday, June 23, where he will take the helm as Carlos Tavares's formal successor. Tavares, who led Stellantis from its inception, stepped down in December amid disappointing U.S. sales and inventory struggles and growing internal and external pressure to reassess the company's direction. Stellantis Chairman John Elkann has a plate and a half full when it comes to overseeing the company's wide range of global brands, which include the likes of Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Peugeot, and Alfa Romeo. The company is under pressure to streamline its operations and invest wisely. Stellantis is a publicly traded company listed on the stock exchanges of New York, Paris, and Milan, and financially savvy investors and analysts think that trimming down the 14-brand lineup could boost Stellantis' margins. Back in April, they brought in McKinsey & Co., a consulting firm based in New York, to examine the impact of new U.S. tariffs and explore options for Maserati and Alfa Romeo. According to the sources cited by Reuters, selling one or both brands is on the table, but any decisions are still in the early phases. In an emailed statement to Autoblog, a Maserati spokesperson provided the following statement: "A spokesperson for Stellantis stated: 'Respectfully, Maserati is not for sale.'" Additionally, a McKinsey spokesperson told Autoblog in a separate emailed statement that they "have no comment for this story." The timing of the Trident's review coincides with its efforts to position itself to navigate some significant industry challenges. Chinese brands and their affordable, tech-forward offerings are eating into the European market share. Like other European automakers, Stellantis is also trying to navigate the steep U.S. import tariffs recently imposed by President Donald Trump, which can greatly impact import brands like Maserati and the expensive motors it imports in smaller numbers. Unlike Stellantis brands like Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler, no Maserati comes from a production facility in North America; all of Maserati's U.S. lineup is exclusively imported from Italy. Maserati's performance has been underwhelming, as it faces tough ground in its key markets. According to Maserati Chief Executive Officer Santo Ficili, about 35% to 40% of its customers are American. In 2024, Maserati posted an adjusted operating loss of €260 million ($298 million) as it sold just 11,300 units, with 4,819 of those cars reaching drivers in the United States. One of the sources who talked to Reuters said that Stellantis is starting to realize it has more brands than it can really focus on, adding that it needs to "set priorities" with the matter. They also report that some board members are split on this scenario: some think selling Maserati is the best move, while others worry that getting rid of its only luxury brand would hurt the company's reputation. This is not the first time that Maserati has been speculated to be sold. Notably, last year, comments from former Stellantis CFO Natalie Knight suggested that the Trident may be on the way out at the 14-brand automaker, which has sincebeen refuted. However, what we solidly know is that Maserati and Alfa Romeo's brand CEO said that it has a turnaround plan as soon as Filosa takes the helm on Monday, the 23rd. In a June 5 interview with Reuters, he not only denied that Stellantis was selling Maserati, but he also expressed optimism over the future of the Trident and that Filosa will back potential plans, which include new products on the horizon. "We have clear ideas about what we want to do, and we hope we can be ready very soon. Let's wait for Antonio to take up his job," Ficili told the newswire. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
US stocks end mostly lower as investors weigh Trump's Iran plan, Fed rate cut possibility
U.S. stocks closed mostly lower as investors waited to see if President Donald Trump will attack Iran or hammer out a nuclear deal with the country. Trump will decide within two weeks on striking Iran, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. He's open to talks, but Iran has said it won't negotiate with the U.S. unless Israel stops attacking. The only way to end the imposed war is to 'unconditionally stop' the enemy's aggression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday in a post on X. European leaders from UK, France and Germany are talking with Iranian leaders and reportedly will encourage discussions with the U.S. Still, senior U.S. officials have been preparing for the possibility of a strike on Iran, with some pointing to potential plans for a weekend strike, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. Stocks got an early boost from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller who said in a CNBC interview he doesn't expect tariffs to boost inflation significantly so policymakers should be looking to lower interest rates as early as next month. Lower rates are seen as a boost for stocks because they encourage borrowing and investing by cutting the cost of financing. 'That would be my view, whether the committee would go along with it or not,' Waller said. His tone was different from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments earlier this week that the Fed was in no hurry to move rates. Instead, the central bank would wait to see effects of Trump's tariffs on inflation, the economy and jobs. The blue-chip Dow index closed up 0.08%, or 35.16 points, to 42,206.82; the broad S&P 500 dipped 0.22%, or 13.03 points, to 5,967.84, below the key psycholgical 6,000 level and its third straight loss; and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 0.51%, or 98.86 points, to 19,447.41. Oil prices dipped to $75 per barrel. The benchmark 10- year yield fell to 4.379%. In early afternoon trade, chip stocks fell after the Wall Street Journal said Jeffrey Kessler, head of the Commerce Department unit in charge of export controls, told top global semiconductor makers he wanted to revoke waivers they have used to access American technology in China. Currently, South Korea's Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing enjoy blanket waivers that allow them to ship American chip-making equipment to their factories in China without applying for a separate license each time, the story said. Analysts at Jefferies, though, said in a note "it is not very material in our view. We are talking about three fabs which are not big buyers of equipment in any three companies will simply move any production they can't do in China to their fabs in Taiwan or Korea." Trump again criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell after the Federal Reserve rates remained unchanged this week. Trump labeled Powell as 'destructive' in a social media post and said Powell is costing the United States 'hundreds of billions of dollars' by leaving rates steady. Trump has been calling for rate cuts to boost the economy and drop the cost of U.S. debt financing. CarMax's results in the first three months of its fiscal year topped analysts' forecasts. Shares rose 6.59%. Darden Restaurants results in the last three months of its fiscal year beat analysts' expectations. The restaurant chain owner also issued a solid sales outlook for fiscal year 2026. Shares rose 1.36%. Accenture topped quarterly revenue estimates but its bookings fell for the second straight quarter. Shares dropped 6.86%. Microsoft plans to lay off several thousand employees in the next few weeks. Shares were marginally lower. Smith and Wesson's sales in the last three months of its fiscal year missed forecasts and profit declined from a year ago It said steel tariffs could drive up costs for the gunmaker. Shares slid 19.81%. Specialty building products company GMS is getting buyout interest from both QXO and Home Depot. QXO offered GMS $95.20 per share and the Wall Street Journal said Home Depot made a separate private offer. GMS shares jumped 23.63%. Grocery chain Kroger reported mixed quarterly results, but raised its annual same-stores sales outlook. Kroger said tariffs hadn't materially impacted the business and price increases were its last resort. Shares gained 9.84%. Hackers with possible links to Israel have drained more than $90 million from Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to blockchain analytics firms, media reports said. Bitcoin was last down 1.02% at $103,595.00. (This story was updated with new information.) Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@ and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US stocks close mostly lower as investors mull Trump Iran move, Fed Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq fall amid Fed rate uncertainty as Trump mulls Iran move
US stocks closed the session mixed on Friday as investors navigated a flurry of developments across multiple fronts. A Fed governor floated the possibility of interest rate cuts by July, and President Trump put off a decision on whether he would authorize a US strike in Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose just above the flatline. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell 0.4%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell 0.6%. All three major averages were little changed for the shortened holiday trading week. Meanwhile, chip stocks took a hit on Friday after a Wall Street Journal report indicated the US wants to revoke waivers from top global semiconductor manufacturers used for accessing American technology in China. Nvidia (NVDA) fell around 1.1%. Meanwhile, Trump has introduced a self-imposed two-week time limit on deciding whether to enter the Middle East conflict, via a message relayed on Thursday by the White House press secretary. While the move added another layer of uncertainty to an already cautious market, it also opened a window for diplomacy to persuade Iran to negotiate — an idea its president rejected strongly on Friday. Eyes are now on European efforts to get Iran back to the table and avert further escalation in tensions. Foreign ministers from France, the UK, and Germany held talks in Geneva with their Iranian counterpart. Meanwhile, Fed governor Chris Waller on Friday floated the possibility of rate cuts in July, arguing recent inflation data has been tame even amid the introduction of Trump's tariffs.. The central bank held interest rates steady this week, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that policymakers are not rushing to ease, leading to a fresh attack from Trump. Waller's comments led to a slight uptick in bets on a July cut, though most traders are betting on the next cut coming in September, according to CME Group. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs Alphabet stock was on pace to end the week in the red as shares of the Google parent company sank more than 3% during Friday's session with tech broadly lower. The stock is down roughly 4% for the week. On Thursday, an adviser to Europe's highest court sided with EU regulators in Google's fight against a record 4.34 billion euro ($4.98 billion) fine. Turkey has also launched an anti-trust investigation into Google. A recent Reuters report noted the company has proposed more changes to its search results to better showcase rivals. Gold (GC=F) declined 0.3% on Friday after President Trump paused a decision over whether the US will become directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The two-week timeframe to come to a decision on the matter has raised hopes of diplomacy. Gold is up nearly 30% this year amid increased demand for the precious metal from central banks and investors seeking out the safe haven as the US dollar (DX=F, index has weakened. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gave up session gains to fall below the flat line. The broad-based S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) were also down. All three major averages were on pace to end the week in red territory on Friday as Israel and Iran entered their second week of fighting. Chip stocks were under pressure on Friday after a Wall Street Journal report indicated the US aims to rescind waivers that allow top global semiconductor makers to access American technology at their Chinese plants. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: Read more here. Oil was on track to close out its third week of gains as investors awaited President Trump's decision on whether the US would directly intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict. West Texas Intermediate futures (CL=F) traded just below $75 per barrel, and Brent crude (BZ=F), the international benchmark, hovered near $76. WTI and Brent were up nearly 3% for the week after volatile sessions following the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict last Friday. Wall Street analysts have remained cautious on the recent rally. On Friday, Citi said its researchers "see a lower risk of material energy flow disruptions from the conflict." "Affecting the oil supply is not to the benefit of Iran or the US. In the event Iran's 1.1 mbpd of oil exports are disrupted, the team estimates Brent prices could be $75–78/bbl — limited upside from current prices," wrote the analysts. Semiconductor stocks took a hit on Friday after a Wall Street Journal report indicated a top US official told top global semiconductor manufacturers he wants to rescind waivers used to access American technology in China. The move would once again inflame US-China trade tensions. Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) both fell roughly 4%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) and Broadcom (AVGO) also declined. Circle's (CRCL) massive rally shows no signs of cooling. The stablecoin issuer soared as much as 15% in early trading on Friday, extending its stunning post-IPO surge as Wall Street bets big on crypto's next major disruptor. "Circle as a top-tier crypto 'disruptor' with a sizeable future opportunity," Seaport Research Partners analyst Jeff Cantwell wrote on Friday. "On the back of an improving regulatory climate, we expect adoption globally of stablecoins such as USDC," he added. Cantwell initiated the stock with a Buy rating and a price target of $235 a share from Seaport Research Partners. During mid-morning trading on Friday, Circle stock hovered near $228. The move follows a surge of about 30% on Wednesday following the Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act, legislation that provides a federal framework for stablecoins, which are digital tokens backed by assets, such as the US dollar. US stocks rose on Friday following dovish comments from Fed Governor Chris Waller. Investors also digested President Trump's two-week deadline for deciding whether the US will directly get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.3% while the broad-based S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained roughly 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.4%. Oil prices fell after the White House said Trump would make his decision within two weeks, leaving room for diplomacy. Still, crude futures were on pace for a third week of gains. Dovish comments also sent stocks higher after Fed governor Chris Waller on CNBC's Squawk Box suggested that the Federal Reserve could move to lower interest rates in July. Waller said that any inflation from tariffs may be short-lived. US stock futures edged higher ahead of the opening bell, with contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) and S&P 500 (ES=F) rising roughly 0.3%, and those on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) adding 0.4%. The move higher followed dovish comments from Fed governor Chris Waller on CNBC's Squawk Box, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could move to lower interest rates in July. Waller argued that any inflation from tariffs may be short-lived. "Any tariff inflation ... I don't think is going to be that big, and we should just look through it in terms of setting policy," Waller said. "The data the last few months has been showing that trend inflation is looking pretty good ... We could do this as early as July." Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. A recent memo from Amazon (AMZN) CEO Andy Jassy revived concerns about the scope of change to the labor market from artificial intelligence. While employers see growth and productivity, employees are worried about massive displacement in their jobs. And now, it's something the Federal Reserve is watching closely too: Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Accenture (ACN) stock is down more than 4% after the global consultancy company reported new bookings decreased 6% to $19.7 billion in the quarter. Earnings topped estimates, with revenue coming in at $17.7 billion for the quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $17.30 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Reuters reports: Read more here. CarMax (KMX) stock climbed 11% in premarket trading after the used car dealer's first quarter earnings and revenue beat Wall Street expectations. CarMax sold 379,727 cars in the first quarter, a 5.8% increase from the same period last year. The company also reported earnings per share of $1.38, and revenue rose 6.1% to $7.55 billion, topping estimates. CarMax CEO Bill Nash said that its omnichannel buying and selling experience "is a key differentiator in a very large and fragmented market that positions us to continue to drive sales, gain market share, and deliver significant year-over-year earnings growth for years to come.' Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Tesla (TSLA) stock rose over 1% before the bell following reports that the EV maker had signed a $557 million energy storage station deal. This deal was announced two days before Elon Musk's expected launch of its robotaxi. Semiconductor maker, Wolfspeed's (WOLF) stock fell 4% premarket after reports emerged on Thursday it would be taken over by creditors inculding Apollo Global Management. The chipmaker has been struggling recently and the new proposal would put them into bankruptcy. GMS (GMS) stock was up 23% after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Home Depot (HD) the home-improvement giant, has made an offer to acquire GMS, a building-products distribution company, citing people familiar with the matter. The WSJ did not specify a price. Economic data: Leading index (May); Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook (June) Earnings: Accenture (ACN), CarMax (KMX), Darden Restaurants (DRI), Kroger (KR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed yesterday, overnight and early this morning: The Fed is also in 'wait and see' mode about AI taking jobs The Trump phone probably won't be built in the US Investors look past 'blah' Fed meeting Tesla signs deal for first China battery storage station: Report Trump to decide on Iran strike within two weeks Dealmaking in 2025: AI to the rescue Tariff talks with Canada, EU take focus as deadlines loom A $20B clock is ticking for OpenAI as Microsoft talks sour Trump blasts Powell again, calls for effectively 10 Fed rate cuts China's rare earth magnet shipments halve in May due to export curbs Why the US housing market is so stuck Shares of Pop Mart ( PMRTY) slid in Hong Kong after a call for stricter regulation of blind-box and trading cards in Chinese state media. That fueled concerns about prospects for the maker of furry Labubu elf dolls, whose explosive popularity has helped lift Beijing-based Pop Mart's market cap to around $40 billion — twice that of Hasbro (HAS) and Mattel (MAT) combined. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Oil prices look set to end this week with gains for the third consecutive week in a row. Extreme tensions in the Middle East have put consistent upwards pressure on the commodity, with the recent eruption into outright violence leaving investors looking at supply chains and production facilities with concern. Reuters reports: ` Read more here. Alphabet stock was on pace to end the week in the red as shares of the Google parent company sank more than 3% during Friday's session with tech broadly lower. The stock is down roughly 4% for the week. On Thursday, an adviser to Europe's highest court sided with EU regulators in Google's fight against a record 4.34 billion euro ($4.98 billion) fine. Turkey has also launched an anti-trust investigation into Google. A recent Reuters report noted the company has proposed more changes to its search results to better showcase rivals. Gold (GC=F) declined 0.3% on Friday after President Trump paused a decision over whether the US will become directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The two-week timeframe to come to a decision on the matter has raised hopes of diplomacy. Gold is up nearly 30% this year amid increased demand for the precious metal from central banks and investors seeking out the safe haven as the US dollar (DX=F, index has weakened. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gave up session gains to fall below the flat line. The broad-based S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) were also down. All three major averages were on pace to end the week in red territory on Friday as Israel and Iran entered their second week of fighting. Chip stocks were under pressure on Friday after a Wall Street Journal report indicated the US aims to rescind waivers that allow top global semiconductor makers to access American technology at their Chinese plants. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: Read more here. Oil was on track to close out its third week of gains as investors awaited President Trump's decision on whether the US would directly intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict. West Texas Intermediate futures (CL=F) traded just below $75 per barrel, and Brent crude (BZ=F), the international benchmark, hovered near $76. WTI and Brent were up nearly 3% for the week after volatile sessions following the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict last Friday. Wall Street analysts have remained cautious on the recent rally. On Friday, Citi said its researchers "see a lower risk of material energy flow disruptions from the conflict." "Affecting the oil supply is not to the benefit of Iran or the US. In the event Iran's 1.1 mbpd of oil exports are disrupted, the team estimates Brent prices could be $75–78/bbl — limited upside from current prices," wrote the analysts. Semiconductor stocks took a hit on Friday after a Wall Street Journal report indicated a top US official told top global semiconductor manufacturers he wants to rescind waivers used to access American technology in China. The move would once again inflame US-China trade tensions. Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) both fell roughly 4%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) and Broadcom (AVGO) also declined. Circle's (CRCL) massive rally shows no signs of cooling. The stablecoin issuer soared as much as 15% in early trading on Friday, extending its stunning post-IPO surge as Wall Street bets big on crypto's next major disruptor. "Circle as a top-tier crypto 'disruptor' with a sizeable future opportunity," Seaport Research Partners analyst Jeff Cantwell wrote on Friday. "On the back of an improving regulatory climate, we expect adoption globally of stablecoins such as USDC," he added. Cantwell initiated the stock with a Buy rating and a price target of $235 a share from Seaport Research Partners. During mid-morning trading on Friday, Circle stock hovered near $228. The move follows a surge of about 30% on Wednesday following the Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act, legislation that provides a federal framework for stablecoins, which are digital tokens backed by assets, such as the US dollar. US stocks rose on Friday following dovish comments from Fed Governor Chris Waller. Investors also digested President Trump's two-week deadline for deciding whether the US will directly get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.3% while the broad-based S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained roughly 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.4%. Oil prices fell after the White House said Trump would make his decision within two weeks, leaving room for diplomacy. Still, crude futures were on pace for a third week of gains. Dovish comments also sent stocks higher after Fed governor Chris Waller on CNBC's Squawk Box suggested that the Federal Reserve could move to lower interest rates in July. Waller said that any inflation from tariffs may be short-lived. US stock futures edged higher ahead of the opening bell, with contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) and S&P 500 (ES=F) rising roughly 0.3%, and those on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) adding 0.4%. The move higher followed dovish comments from Fed governor Chris Waller on CNBC's Squawk Box, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could move to lower interest rates in July. Waller argued that any inflation from tariffs may be short-lived. "Any tariff inflation ... I don't think is going to be that big, and we should just look through it in terms of setting policy," Waller said. "The data the last few months has been showing that trend inflation is looking pretty good ... We could do this as early as July." Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. A recent memo from Amazon (AMZN) CEO Andy Jassy revived concerns about the scope of change to the labor market from artificial intelligence. While employers see growth and productivity, employees are worried about massive displacement in their jobs. And now, it's something the Federal Reserve is watching closely too: Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Accenture (ACN) stock is down more than 4% after the global consultancy company reported new bookings decreased 6% to $19.7 billion in the quarter. Earnings topped estimates, with revenue coming in at $17.7 billion for the quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $17.30 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Reuters reports: Read more here. CarMax (KMX) stock climbed 11% in premarket trading after the used car dealer's first quarter earnings and revenue beat Wall Street expectations. CarMax sold 379,727 cars in the first quarter, a 5.8% increase from the same period last year. The company also reported earnings per share of $1.38, and revenue rose 6.1% to $7.55 billion, topping estimates. CarMax CEO Bill Nash said that its omnichannel buying and selling experience "is a key differentiator in a very large and fragmented market that positions us to continue to drive sales, gain market share, and deliver significant year-over-year earnings growth for years to come.' Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Tesla (TSLA) stock rose over 1% before the bell following reports that the EV maker had signed a $557 million energy storage station deal. This deal was announced two days before Elon Musk's expected launch of its robotaxi. Semiconductor maker, Wolfspeed's (WOLF) stock fell 4% premarket after reports emerged on Thursday it would be taken over by creditors inculding Apollo Global Management. The chipmaker has been struggling recently and the new proposal would put them into bankruptcy. GMS (GMS) stock was up 23% after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Home Depot (HD) the home-improvement giant, has made an offer to acquire GMS, a building-products distribution company, citing people familiar with the matter. The WSJ did not specify a price. Economic data: Leading index (May); Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook (June) Earnings: Accenture (ACN), CarMax (KMX), Darden Restaurants (DRI), Kroger (KR) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed yesterday, overnight and early this morning: The Fed is also in 'wait and see' mode about AI taking jobs The Trump phone probably won't be built in the US Investors look past 'blah' Fed meeting Tesla signs deal for first China battery storage station: Report Trump to decide on Iran strike within two weeks Dealmaking in 2025: AI to the rescue Tariff talks with Canada, EU take focus as deadlines loom A $20B clock is ticking for OpenAI as Microsoft talks sour Trump blasts Powell again, calls for effectively 10 Fed rate cuts China's rare earth magnet shipments halve in May due to export curbs Why the US housing market is so stuck Shares of Pop Mart ( PMRTY) slid in Hong Kong after a call for stricter regulation of blind-box and trading cards in Chinese state media. That fueled concerns about prospects for the maker of furry Labubu elf dolls, whose explosive popularity has helped lift Beijing-based Pop Mart's market cap to around $40 billion — twice that of Hasbro (HAS) and Mattel (MAT) combined. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Oil prices look set to end this week with gains for the third consecutive week in a row. Extreme tensions in the Middle East have put consistent upwards pressure on the commodity, with the recent eruption into outright violence leaving investors looking at supply chains and production facilities with concern. Reuters reports: ` Read more here.
