(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 14 apr - US shares were trading higher at midday amid reports the the US and Iran are currently discussing the possibility of a second round of negotiations to firm up their fragile two-week ceasefire.

Earlier today US president Donald Trump said that the 'right people' in Iran still want to make a deal to resolve the conflict with the US. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi meanwhile signalled progress had been made on many issues in talks between the two countries.

The comments come on the second day of the US's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that handled roughly a fifth of global energy flows before the conflict.

'Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table,' US vice president JD Vance said in an interview today.

On the data front, wholesale inflation rose in March in what was its largest 12-month advance since February 2023. But the number was below expectations.

Big bank earnings meanwhile continued to roll in with Citigroup shares rising 1.20% after the investment bank beat expectations. JPMorgan shares were lower despite beating forecasts.

On the stocks front, shares in American Airlines were up 8.28% after a media report said United Airlines CEO was keen on a tie up with its peer.

At 1517 GMT, the Dow Jones was up 230.75 points, or 0.48%, at 48,450.97 points.

The S&P 500 was 50.42 points, or 0.73%, higher at 6,936.66 points.

The Nasdaq was gaining 282.60 points, or 1.22%, at 23,465.36.

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(RADIOCOR) 14-04-26 17:23:38 (0628) 5 NNNN