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Oil prices cooled slightly on Tuesday after their skyrocketing rally, with Brent crude futures dropping over 1% to near the $111 per barrel mark following a report that US President Donald Trump is willing to end the war with Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.Trump told his aides that he is willing to end the war even if a large part of the operations through the Strait of Hormuz remains set to open at a later date, the Wall Street Journal ‌reported on Monday, citing administration officials.Brent crude futures fell to $111 per barrel, a day after reaching their highest levels since March 19. WTI Crude, meanwhile, dropped to $102 per barrel today, as seen at around 8 am IST. This led to a spike in GIFT Nifty, as investors hoped for some relief on Dalal Street after the incessant selloff.All is well?Despite the optimism, some caution is warranted. The war, which began earlier this month with US-Israeli strikes killing Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khammenei and resulting in massive retaliation from Tehran, has spread across the Middle East. Yemeni Houthis launched their first attacks on ⁠Israel over ‌the weekend, widening the ongoing war and adding to inflation woes. Trump warned the US would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz. This comes as Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday.Thousands of soldiers from the US Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, Reuters reported, adding that this is part of a reinforcement that would expand Trump's options to include the deployment of forces inside Iranian territory, even as he pursues talks with Tehran.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said Trump wanted to reach a deal with Tehran before an April 6 deadline he set last week after extending an earlier deadline he had set for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Leavitt said US’ talks with Iran were progressing, adding that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells US officials in private.What lies ahead?Macquarie has warned that crude prices could surge to an unprecedented $200 a barrel if the Iran conflict drags into mid-year and keeps the vital Strait of Hormuz shut. “If the strait were to stay closed for an extended period, prices would need to move high enough to destroy a historically large amount of global oil demand,” the Macquarie analysts said in the March 27 report, as reported by Bloomberg. “The timing of the re-opening of the straits, and physical damage to energy infrastructure, is the main determinant of the longer-term impact on commodities,” it added.Ambit Institutional Equities, in its report, said that even if geopolitical tensions cool off, oil prices will remain elevated, with $80 being the new normal for Brent due to infrastructure damage, geopolitical risk premiums, and inventory restocking.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Nasdaq is set to overhaul the way companies enter its flagship Nasdaq-100 index, introducing a series of rule changes aimed at accelerating the inclusion of newly listed large-cap firms. The move comes as the exchange operator attempts to modernise its benchmark and address structural shifts in global equity markets, according to Reuters.At the heart of the changes is a new “fast entry” mechanism designed to significantly reduce the waiting period for high-value companies seeking entry into the index. Under the revised framework, eligible firms could be added within weeks of listing, a sharp contrast to the current process that can stretch to a year or more.The decision reflects a broader shift in corporate behaviour, where companies are choosing to stay private for longer periods, often reaching massive valuations before debuting on public markets. As a result, several firms are now entering exchanges as fully mature, large-cap entities rather than early-stage growth stories.Nasdaq’s new rules are expected to take effect from May 1, although their impact on index composition will likely begin to show from June. The changes are part of a wider effort to ensure that the Nasdaq-100 remains representative of the largest and most influential companies trading on the exchange.The urgency behind the revamp is also tied to a long-term decline in the number of publicly listed firms in the United States. Data cited by Reuters indicates that the count of listed companies has fallen by more than a third since 2000, raising concerns about the depth and diversity of public markets.The updated framework introduces a structured approach for early inclusion. Newly listed companies will be assessed based on their market capitalisation within the first week of trading. If they rank among the top constituents and meet other eligibility criteria, they could be fast-tracked into the index shortly thereafter.In addition to the fast-entry provision, Nasdaq is introducing a new methodology for calculating market capitalisation. This will include both listed and certain unlisted share classes, offering a more comprehensive view of a company’s size. This adjustment aims to better capture the true scale of modern corporations, many of which have complex share structures.The exchange is also removing the requirement for companies to float a minimum percentage of shares. However, firms with lower public float will carry reduced weightings within the index, ensuring that liquidity considerations remain embedded in the system.Further changes include a more systematic update of outstanding share data on a quarterly basis, replacing the existing ad-hoc approach. Additionally, companies that fall below a minimum weight threshold for two consecutive months may be removed from the index, making room for larger eligible firms.The revamp comes at a time when competition among global index providers is intensifying. Other major benchmarks are also exploring reforms to accommodate a new generation of high-profile listings, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence sectors.Inclusion in a benchmark such as the Nasdaq-100 remains highly coveted. It typically leads to increased institutional ownership, improved liquidity, and greater visibility among global investors. By speeding up access to the index, Nasdaq is positioning itself to better capture the next wave of market leaders expected to emerge from the current pipeline of large-scale initial public offerings.