US stocks traded near record levels on Monday as easing oil prices and optimism over progress in US-Iran talks helped support investor sentiment, even as rising Treasury yields reflected concerns about inflation and the outlook for interest rates.The S&P 500 edged up 0.1%, remaining within 1.3% of the all-time high it touched earlier this month. The benchmark index is coming off its 11th weekly gain in the past 12 weeks.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 220 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.2% in early trade, AP reported.Investor sentiment received a boost after weekend talks between the United States and Iran. US Vice President JD Vance said the discussions had created a “good foundation for a successful final deal”.Markets are closely watching developments in West Asia as a lasting agreement could ensure uninterrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.Brent crude oil fell 2.8% to USD 78.34 a barrel, moving closer to the roughly USD 70 level seen before the conflict. Iran’s military had claimed on Saturday that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, though US Central Command disputed the assertion.Despite the decline in oil prices, Treasury yields moved higher as investors assessed the possibility that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates later this year to contain inflation.Economists expect a key inflation report due on Thursday to show consumer inflation accelerated to 4.1% in May from 3.8% in April.The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.49% from 4.46% on Thursday.According to CME Group data, traders are now pricing in nearly a 90% probability that the Fed will raise its benchmark rate at least once before the end of the year, up sharply from 57% a week ago.Higher bond yields have emerged as a concern for equity markets globally, particularly for richly valued technology stocks that have rallied on enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence.Among individual stocks, SpaceX fell 6.1%, extending losses for a third straight session after a strong run following its much-publicised stock market debut.The stock slipped below USD 174 after initially listing at USD 135 per share.Healthcare major AbbVie gained 4.9% after announcing an agreement to acquire Apogee Therapeutics and its pipeline of treatments for dermatological, respiratory and immune-related diseases.Apogee Therapeutics surged 46.9% following the announcement of the deal, valued at about USD 10.9 billion.Outside the US, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.5% after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would step down as Labour Party leader and leave office within weeks.Asian markets extended their rally, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbing 1.5% to a fresh record high, led by technology stocks benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom.South Korea’s Kospi also gained 0.7% to reach a record level, supported by AI-related companies. **AP**
