Stock Market Responds Positively to Geopolitical Tensions

In a surprising turn of events, major stock market indexes in the United States closed higher on Friday. This uptick came after a tense encounter between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, which had initially raised concerns about escalating geopolitical tensions.

Details of the Oval Office Clash

The leaders had met to discuss and potentially sign a Ukraine mineral rights deal beneficial to the US. However, the meeting took a turn when President Trump accused President Zelensky of being "disrespectful" and "not ready for peace". This accusation came after Zelensky dismissed Trump's calls for a ceasefire, citing Russia's previous breaches of similar agreements. Consequently, Zelensky left the White House without securing the mineral deal and without participating in a joint press conference with Trump.

Market Reaction

Despite the initial concerns, the stock market responded positively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a significant rise of 1.39% or 600 points. Similarly, the Nasdaq 100 increased by 1.62% and the S&P 500 grew by 1.58%. Meanwhile, the euro experienced a slight decrease of 0.30% against the dollar, selling for $1.03744 at 3:58 pm ET.

More developments are expected as the situation unfolds...