Bloomberg News Now: Markets, Apple, France, and Middle East Tensions

Market Performance and Economic Data

• 📈 The S&P 500 gained 18 points, the NASDAQ rose 81 points, and the Dow increased by 197 points.
• 📊 Ten-year Treasury yields stood at 4.8%, with two-year yields at 3.55% as traders looked past U.S. jobs data.
• ⚠️ U.S. payroll numbers were revised down by a record 911,000 for the year ending in March, suggesting weaker job growth.
• 📉 Inflation data is anticipated to test the market's conviction on Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Apple's iPhone 17 and Trade War Impact

• 📱 Apple shares fell 1.5% following the unveiling of its next-generation iPhones, including an ultra-thin model.
• 💰 A price hike of 10% for the iPhone 17 Pro, now costing $1100, and the iPhone Air starting at $1000, are noted.
• 🌍 The company is feeling pressure from a global trade war, raising questions about price increases and consumer incentives.

Middle East Tensions and Oil Prices

• 💥 Israel conducted a strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar's capital, a move the White House stated did not advance peace goals.
• ⛽ Oil prices jumped, with West Texas Intermediate nearing $63 per barrel, reviving fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
• 🗣️ U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty and urged a ceasefire.

French Political and Economic Landscape

• 🇫🇷 President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sebastien Lecornu as France's new prime minister to navigate a divided Parliament.
• 🏛️ Lecornu will need support from the left or right to pass the 2026 budget, as his minority government lacks sufficient votes.

Legal and Corporate News

• ⚖️ A Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges against individuals accused of falsifying certified election results.
• 🚫 Cracker Barrel is suspending store remodels after its new logo sparked criticism, impacting its turnaround plan.