Company Interview / the open: Trump considers leaving NATO 📈 ASX set to open positively

Global stocks have rallied while oil prices have fallen on hopes of an end to the war in the Middle East. The local market is set to build on the previous session's gains with ASX futures up 0.2%. Wall Street's major indices continued to erase recent losses ahead of a scheduled address to the nation by President Trump later today. 

The United States will end its war on Iran soon and could return for "spot hits" if needed, US President Trump has said ahead of his scheduled prime-time address to the nation. He said that Iran had offered the US a ceasefire, a claim the Iranian regime called “false and baseless.” US President Trump has also flagged that he was considering withdrawing the US from the NATO alliance over what he sees as its failure to support the US in the war. 

Oil prices have settled lower on expectations that President Trump will announce a timeline for an end to the war. This comes as US gasoline prices rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in more than three years. 

Gold has risen for a fourth straight session as the US dollar slipped and other risk assets rallied. Spot gold up 2% at $4,760 an ounce. The US dollar is down 0.4% on the day, whilst the Australian dollar has risen to US69.3 cents.