(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 21 apr - US shares opened higher as investors assessed mixed messages over prospects for US-Iran peace talks a day before a temporary ceasefire is due to expire.

In comments today, US president Donald Trump said he believed the US was 'going to end up with a great deal' with Iran to end the war, even as he said he did not expect to extend the ceasefire expiring Wednesday.

Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, meanwhile said Iran did not accept negotiations 'under the shadow of threats', and added Tehran had 'new cards on the battlefield.' Elsewhere Trump's nominee for the chair of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, prepares to face the Senate later today for confirmation of his nomination. Trump told CNBC in an interview today he would be disappointed if Warsh did not cut rates quickly.

On the stocks front, shares in Apple were down 0.6% in early trade after news Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of the iPhone giant to be replaced by hardware engineering head John Ternus. UnitedHealth shares jumped 9.1% after the health insurance giant beat earnings expectations and raised guidance.

Just after the opening bell the Dow Jones was up 302.39 points, or 0.61%, at 49,744.95 points, the S&P 500 was up 19.10 points, or 0.27%, at 7,128.24, while the Nasdaq was up.

57.33 points, or 0.24%, at 24,461.72.

(RADIOCOR) 21-04-26 15:44:38 (0558) 5 NNNN