Exclusive: US exchanges, SEC in talks to ease public company regulations

U.S. exchange operators are in talks with the Securities and Exchanges Commission on easing regulatory burdens for public companies, as they seek to encourage more richly valued startups to list, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Oil prices recovered a little on Wednesday after sliding earlier this week, as investors assessed the stability of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, while support also came from data that showed U.S. demand was relatively strong.

Oil steadies as investors assess Iran-Israel ceasefire, demand outlook

Fed's Powell heads to Senate panel for second day of testimony

Powell hearing with Senate Banking panel begins at 10 a.m. Powell likely to repeat message tariffs expected to raise inflation Investors pricing September, December cuts

US strikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear sites, intelligence report says

ISRAELI MEDIA SAYS AIR FORCE IS WORKING TO INTERCEPT A DRONE LAUNCHED FROM YEMEN

ZELENSKIY SAYS MEETING WITH TRUMP WAS SUBSTANTIVE

The benchmark S&P 500 hovered close to an all-time high on Wednesday as an Israel-Iran ceasefire appeared to be holding and investors watched Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's congressional testimony for hints on the monetary policy path.

*TRUMP ON POWELL: "I THINK HE IS A VERY STUPID PERSON ACTUALLY"

POWELL: IN LAST COUPLE YEARS, STABLECOIN INDUSTRY HAS MATURED, BECOME MORE MAINSTREAM

POWELL: STAGFLATION NOT THE BASE CASE POWELL: IF THERE WERE STAGFLATION, WOULD PUT FED IN A HARD PLACE

TRUMP: ‘POWELL IS A VERY AVERAGE MENTALLY PERSON’

WHITE HOUSE: TRUMP OPEN TO FORCE IF IRAN REBUILDS NUCLEAR PROGRAM White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump prefers diplomacy with Iran but is willing to use force if necessary. "He's not afraid to use strength," she said, while emphasizing, "

IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARAQCHI SAYS TEHRAN IS ASSESSING WHETHER DIPLOMACY WITH U.S. IS IN ITS INTEREST

IRAN'S ARAQCHI: THERE IS CURRENTLY NO UNDERSTANDING FOR RENEWED TALKS WITH U.S.

BESSENT: AFTER DIALOGUE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES ON THE OECD GLOBAL TAX DEAL, WE WILL ANNOUNCE A JOINT UNDERSTANDING AMONG G7 COUNTRIES THAT DEFENDS AMERICAN INTERESTS

TRUMP: WOULD BE HELPFUL IF FED LOWERED INTEREST RATES

FRANCE'S MACRON: IF 10% US TARIFFS STAYED, EUROPE WOULD HAVE TO IMPOSE EQUIVALENT COMPENSATION ON US INDUSTRIES