(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 7 apr - US shares opened lower as the clock ticks down on a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes to critical infrastructure.

US president Donald Trump said yesterday the US was ready to wipe out Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 pm (ET) today.

In a post today he said 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.' The US and Iran have criticised each other's cease-fire proposals but media reports said a proposal backed by mediator Pakistan is still under consideration.

Investors fear failure to reach a deal in time will trigger a rapid escalation of the war which is already in its fourth week, send oil prices north.

On the stocks front, shares in health and insurance companies were higher in early trading after Washington said it would increase payments to Medicare insurers. UnitedHealth was up 8.7%, Humana 9.4% and CVS Health 5.8%.

Just after the opening bell the Dow Jones was down 101.25 points, or 0.22%, at 46,568.63 points, the S&P 500 was down 12.24 points, or .19%, at 6,599.59, while the Nasdaq was down.

94.30 points, or 0.43%, at 21,902.04.

(RADIOCOR) 07-04-26 15:43:49 (0446) 5 NNNN