Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0944 ET - BRP's tariff headwinds add another layer of complexity to an already tense trade environment. TD Cowen analyst Brian Morrison notes that the maker of Sea-Doos and Ski-Doos was already contending with a 50% tariff on applicable steel, aluminum, and copper content, but amended rules now impose a 25% tariff on the total value of products such as off-road vehicles and snowmobiles imported into the U.S. He calls the change a "major headwind," especially as it coincides with the ongoing USMCA renegotiation. Morrison estimates the net impact could reduce FY27 EBITDA by roughly $350 million, though he cautions that the outcome could shift significantly depending on how USMCA talks evolve, with visibility remaining limited at this stage. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)

0932 ET - ASML's guidance lift suggests solid chip-equipment demand persists despite concerns about big tech overinvesting in AI, AJ Bell's Russ Mould writes in a note. The Dutch supplier of chip-making equipment raised its full-year sales expectations amid robust demand. "Customers are lining up to buy its equipment, which is a ringing endorsement of its skills as ASML's products are not a casual purchase," he says. Such purchases signal a deep commitment given the high costs, he adds. However, potential U.S. restrictions on selling or servicing certain equipment to Chinese clients could weigh on growth, he says. Shares are down 2.5% at 1,252 euros.(najat.kantouar@wsj.com)

0925 ET - President Trump suggests in a Fox Business interview that he will allow the criminal probe of Jerome Powell to continue even if it delays Kevin Warsh's confirmation. Trump's comments add to evidence this week that the Justice Department is not on the verge of winding down the investigation. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors visited the Washington, D.C. construction site of the Federal Reserve's headquarters renovation. That project is at the center of the probe. With only a month to go before Powell's term as Fed chair ends, the probability is growing that Warsh will not be confirmed in time to take the reins at the Fed mid-May. (matt.grossman@wsj.com; @mattgrossman)

0845 ET - Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo maker BRP is suspending its annual guidance citing new tariffs on certain metals imported into the U.S. TD Cowen analyst Brian Morrison notes that BRP's gross tariff exposure will be greater than $500 million, up from the company's prior forecast of $90 million within its F2027 guidance introduced in late March. "We believe available levers to BRP will not offset a large component of this impact," says Morrison. "This is a major expense headwind, one likely to impact BRP more than peers due to its ORV/Snow production in Mexico/Canada." While pricing and cost mitigation can be used to soften the blow, these may ultimately deter buyers and weigh on market share, Morrison says. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)

0808 ET - Bitcoin falls marginally as initial optimism over potential fresh U.S.-Iran peace talks fades. Investors are awaiting more clear signs of progress given weekend talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal. The U.S. has implemented a blockade on Iranian ports while the Washington Post reports the U.S. has sent thousands of additional forces to the Middle East. While bitcoin has eased slightly, the technical picture looks encouraging as it pushes up against the top end of its recent range, Trade Nation's David Morrison says in a note. If bitcoin achieves a sustained rise above $80,000, this could encourage fresh buying, he says. Bitcoin falls 0.1% to $74,091 after reaching a 10-week high of $76,073 Tuesday, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0729 ET - The dollar turns slightly higher as oil prices climb and investors turn cautious on concerns about a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Eight oil tankers have reversed course on direction from U.S. forces, The Wall Street Journal reports citing a U.S. official. Ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz offsets optimism over the prospect of new peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. This encourages safe-haven flows to the dollar while the currency benefits from higher oil prices due to America's energy independence. Given weekend negotiations proved unsuccessful, caution is warranted and the "balance of risks for the dollar now looks tilted to the upside," ING analyst Francesco Pesole says in a note. The DXY dollar index rises 0.1% to 98.237. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0350 ET - Aegon's disposal looks like a good deal, ING says in a research note after the Dutch group agreed to sell its U.K. insurance arm to Standard Life for 2.0 billion pounds in a cash and stock transaction. The price tag is higher than what ING had expected and the figure that had been reported in the press, analyst Jason Kalamboussis writes. He notes that it is positive that Aegon managed to sell the business as one entity and not two separate parts. Exiting business while keeping a stake looks like a modus operandi that suits Aegon, he says, referring to the sale of its Dutch operations to ASR Nederland in 2023. Aegon shares edge down 0.1% while Standard Life's are up 0.6%. (elena.vardon@wsj.com)

0317 ET - European blue-chip indexes are mixed at trading open as luxury stocks tumble, though hopes for Middle East peace buoy other corners of the market. France's luxury-heavy CAC 40 slides 0.6%. Hermes and Gucci-owner Kering fall 12% and 9.3%, respectively, as earnings disappoint investors. The selloff bleeds into Italian luxury stocks, though losses are countered by gains for banks and auto group Stellantis--up 3.6%. The FTSE MIB is flat. The German DAX edges up 0.15% on gains for autos, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbs 0.2% as housing stocks rally after Barratt Redrow held guidance steady. The Spanish IBEX 35 is flat, while the Dutch AEX is 0.2% higher. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0308 ET - Oil prices fall after President Trump signaled the possibility of a second round of talks with Tehran this week, even as American forces press ahead with a naval blockade on Iranian ports. In early European trading, Brent crude falls 0.1% to $94.70 a barrel, while WTI is down 0.4% to $90.88 a barrel. "The risk premium at the front of the oil curve has decreased since the ceasefire announcement as the perceived likelihood of a near-term peace deal has increased," analysts at Goldman Sachs say. Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz haven't picked up yet, while the U.S. blockade threatens to squeeze supply further. However, partly offsetting that pressure, crude output disruptions across the Middle East appear less severe than expected, aided by greater-than-anticipated storage capacity both on land and at sea, GS says. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0307 ET - Bitcoin edges slightly lower as continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz outweighs hopes for renewed U.S.-Iran peace talks. The Wall Street Journal reports that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented and eight oil tankers have obeyed direction from U.S. forces to reverse course. However, President Trump told Fox Business that he thinks the war is close to over and Iran wants to make a deal very badly. Uncertainty over the conflict leaves investors cautious over risky assets including cryptocurrenies. Bitcoin falls 0.3% to $73,934 after reaching a 10-week high of $76,073 Tuesday, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0304 ET - Eurozone government bond yields fall in early trade, tracking U.S. Treasury yields, as investors tentatively believe in the potential for a lasting peace in the Middle East. The U.S. Central Command said that a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented and that U.S. forces are maintaining maritime superiority in the Middle East. The prospect of fresh peace talks between the U.S. and Iran also give hope for cautious optimism. The 10-year German Bund yield falls 3.1 basis points to 3.000% and Italy's 10-year BTP yield is down 3.7 basis points at 3.751%, according to Tradeweb. Italy plans a dual-tranche bond syndication on Wednesday while Germany has a triple-tranche auction of ultra-long Bunds. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)

0242 ET - The dollar trades steady after reaching a six-week low Tuesday driven by reduced safe-haven flows and lower oil prices on hopes for new peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. President Trump told Fox Business that he thinks the war is close to over and Iran wants to make a deal. However, U.S. naval forces have intercepted eight oil tankers entering or leaving Iranian ports since the start of the blockade on Monday, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing a U.S. official. Uncertainty over the situation keeps the dollar from extending Tuesday's losses with investors awaiting more concrete progress towards a peace deal. The DXY dollar index trades flat at 98.157 after falling to as low as 97.969 Tuesday. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 15, 2026 09:44 ET (13:44 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.