SOUTH KOREA FIN MIN: TO RAISE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT OPERATING RATE, SCRAP COAL POWER PLANT OPERATING CAP

U.S. equities advanced as investors weighed reports of a U.S. proposal to halt fighting with Iran. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite added roughly 0.7%. Oil prices declined, with West Texas Intermediate near $90 and Brent below $97. Optimism over potential talks under Donald Trump lifted risk appetite, despite Iran rejecting direct negotiations.

US NATURAL GAS STOCKPILES EXPECTED TO HAVE FALLEN 44 BCF LAST WEEK IN THURSDAY'S EIA DATA, PER SURVEY