UOBAM’s Strategy Group sees more scope for risk-taking as US-Iran tensions cool and market focus shifts back to company fundamentals. US and Iran step away from the brink While the outcome of the US-Iran war remains difficult to predict, it does appear that international attempts to lower the temperature in the Middle East are paying off. The two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on 8 April has now been extended indefinitely, and the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire which was set to expire last Sunday has also been extended by three weeks. This de-escalation had already been anticipated by global stock markets. Almost all major indices bottomed at the end of March and have trended higher through April despite elevated oil prices. Korea and Taiwan are currently leading gains, while Japan and t