Mikel Arteta has unequivocally stated that playing for a draw in Arsenal’s crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester City on Sunday has not crossed his mind “for one second”.

The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium holding a six-point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side, with avoiding defeat potentially pivotal in their pursuit of a first league title in 22 years.

Despite the high stakes, Arteta remained resolute in his pre-match press conference.

“I’m not going to spend one second talking about that,” he declared when asked about a defensive approach. “We prepare every game to win. That’s why we are where we are and we’re going to continue to do the same.”

He added, “we have earned the right to be in this position, to be challenging for the title, and with the possibility to win and the opportunity to win on Sunday, arguably against the best team and the best manager that this league has ever seen. That’s a huge privilege, and we can’t wait to play, and we’re going to prepare the game to win it, that’s for sure.”

However, Arsenal face the formidable challenge without key forward Bukayo Saka, who Arteta confirmed on Friday remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Saka’s absence has coincided with a concerning dip in form for the north London club, who have secured just one victory in their last five outings.

Last weekend’s defeat by Bournemouth has seemingly shifted momentum towards City, who capitalised on their rivals’ home loss with a commanding 3-0 win at Chelsea.

The fixture is being widely billed as one of the most significant in recent Premier League history. Guardiola had previously suggested that City’s championship aspirations would be over if they were to lose to Arsenal.

Responding to these comments, Arteta offered a pragmatic view: “There are six games to go. It’s a really important one for both teams, and it (a win for Arsenal) will incline the balance a little bit. I mean winning at this stage you are a bit closer.

“If we win the first game in the semi-final of the Champions League we’re going to be closer. That’s why it is clear we want to win the game on Sunday.”

The last meeting between the two title contenders at the Etihad in September 2024 was a fiery affair, culminating in Erling Haaland launching a ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel and telling Arteta to “stay humble” amid a post-match clash.

When questioned if he ever understood Haaland’s remarks, Arteta simply replied: “No.” He then added with a smile: “That’s one of the nicest things that you can get told. It’s obviously an extremely competitive match between top sides that are looking to win the Premier League. It doesn’t get better than that and that competition for sure is going to be seen on the pitch.”

While Saka is out, Noni Madueke, who limped off in Arsenal’s draw with Sporting Lisbon, is expected to be fit for Sunday.

Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori will all undergo assessments on Saturday, adding further uncertainty to Arsenal’s squad ahead of the pivotal clash.

Figures released under freedom of information laws have revealed the stark cost of delayed hospital discharge.

More than 1,500 people have died while waiting to get out of hospital in the past three years, according to data obtained by Scottish Labour. Freedom of information requests by the party show 1,579 people died between 2022 and 2025 while waiting to be discharged.

Some 541 died while delayed in 2022/23, 522 in 2023/24 and 516 in 2024/25. Delayed discharge, or bed blocking, happens when a patient is deemed medically fit to leave hospital but is unable due to inadequate arrangements in the community, such as a lack of social care.

Scottish Labour said despite the SNP promising to end delayed discharge in 2025, data from Public Health Scotland shows bed blocking rose – with 55,547 days spent in hospital in February by people whose discharge was delayed, with nearly 2,000 beds on average occupied by people ready to leave that month. According to Audit Scotland, delayed discharge cost the NHS £440 million in 2024/25.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Behind these figures are Scots who spent their last days stuck in hospital wards rather than at home surrounded by friends and family. The SNP’s pledge to end bed blocking lies in tatters, along with so many other broken promises.

“This is a damning sign of the SNP’s neglect of health and social care, which has failed patients and piled pressure on hospitals. Scotland needs change and only Scottish Labour can deliver it.”

Mr Sarwar pledged to create an additional 1,000 care at home packages and 300 step-down beds, should his party take power at Holyrood next month. He said Labour would ease the pressure on hospitals and give people “the dignity of getting home to their family and friends”.

He added: “On May 7, Scotland can vote for change and end the SNP’s neglect of the services we all rely on. Together we can get rid of this failing SNP Government and elect a Scottish Labour government that will get the basics right.”

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While the lingering chill in the air might lead you to believe otherwise, British festival season is fast approaching. We’ve whittled things down into a handy guide to the events you won’t want to miss out on this summer.

For the music obsessives looking to spruce up their rotation with some fresh talent, look no further than the UK’s biggest new music festival, The Great Escape, which will be celebrating its 20th birthday in May. It’s set to be one hell of a party.

Speaking of newcomers, State Fayre, the latest event from industry titans Festival Republic, will be hoping to shake things up in August, bringing an impressive mix of rock, country, folk and Americana to the sprawling grounds of Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex.

Then there are some killer line-ups from Reading and Leeds, All Points East, Green Man and Isle of Wight, which should be enough to keep you busy while Glastonbury takes its traditional fallow year.

So, dust off your sunhat – and, let’s be realistic, your wellies and anorak, too – because it looks like this summer is set to be a corker…

The Great Escape

Where – Brighton

When – 13-16 May 2026

Twenty years since it first erupted onto the UK festival scene, the Great Escape will be returning to Brighton with a veritable smorgasbord of up-and-coming talent, sourced from every corner of the globe. Discover the hottest newcomers to indie, soul, metal, and everything in between, scattered over 30 intimate venues (all within walking distance) in the seaside town.

Confirmed names range from Canadian powerhouse Peaches to The Kooks, who caught their big break at the festival back in 2006, as well as Irish act Kingfishr, who first played The Great Escape on The Independent’s stage two years ago, now performing a spotlight show at the Brighton Dome. Then there are over 450 other acts to enjoy across the four days, plus keynote conversations with Peaches, Melanie C, Ian Murray MP, and plenty of industry insiders and experts discussing everything from representation to mental health. Evie Wynne

Mighty Hoopla

Where – Brockwell Park, London

When – 30 and 31 May 2026

In May, London’s Brockwell Park will once again be playing host to the two-day bonanza that is Mighty Hoopla, the most colourful, joyful, camp celebration of everything we love about pop music. Witness sets from Tulisa, Scissor Sisters, JLS, Louise and Alexandra Burke all in one place, along with this year’s it-girl, Lily Allen, delivering a UK festival exclusive performance of her critically adored comeback album, West End Girl. Grab something sequinned, sparkling or spandex and we’ll see you there. EW

Isle of Wight

Where – Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight

When – 18 – 21 June 2026

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While the festival’s early line-ups earnt it a reputation as the “European equivalent of Woodstock”, it’s fair to say that Isle of Wight has diversified its offering in recent years. Whether you’re singing along to Lewis Capaldi or reminiscing on summers of yore with Calvin Harris and Rita Ora, there really is something for everyone. And with The Cure, Sex Pistols, and Shed Seven all set to make an appearance, there’s plenty to keep the rock fans happy, too. EW

State Fayre

Where – Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex

When – 26 – 28 June 2026

From the organisers of Reading, Leeds and Latitude, we give you State Fayre, a new event tapping into the UK’s ongoing obsession with country music. Packed with the very best that the country, Americana, rock and folk scenes have to offer, its lineup includes major acts like Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Alanis Morissette, Skunk Anansie, The Coral and Kings of Leon, plus brilliant newcomers such as Stephen Wilson Jr, Muireann Bradley and Kezia Gill. And when you need to re-charge, there’ll be plenty of delicious options thanks to foodie influencer Eating with Tod, who’ll be bringing his BBQ festival Fume to the park, as well. EW

Latitude

Where – Henham Park, Suffolk

When – 23 26 July 2026

Latitude’s family-friendly festival returns with a typically excellent mix of music, art, literature and entertainment. Whether you’re in the mood for some chart-topping tunes from Teddy Swims and Tom Grennan, the sweet soul of Billy Ocean or the fiery rock of The Undertones. Want to give those weary feet a rest? Stroll over to the Listening Post, where Salford’s own Dr John Cooper Clarke will be imparting his wisdom with the crowd. Or, for some light relief, join Sarah Pasco, Lenny Henry, and Sue Perkins in the Comedy Arena for an afternoon of guaranteed laughs. EW

Camp Bestival

Where – Lulworth Castle, Dorset

When – 30th July – 2 August 2026

In just a matter of months, the staid grandeur of Lulworth Castle will once more be transformed into a kooky wonderland of circus, craft, disco, and plenty besides. In this, its 18th year, Camp Bestival will be taking parents on a trip down memory lane with performances from hip-hop greats Fatboy Slim and De La Soul, while, a few tents over, the kids settle down for a bedtime story with CBeebies. Best. Weekend. Ever. EW

ArcTanGent

Where – Fernhill Farm, Bristol

When – 19 – 22 August 2026

ArcTanGent represents a glimmering alternative to the more mainstream festivals out there. This year they’re offering performances from industry disruptors Chelsea Wolfe, Primus, and Perturbator, to name a few. ATG opens the door to an underground world of electronic, synth wave, and industrial, bringing them firmly into the fore. Join them in Bristol this August for an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. EW

Green Man

Where – Bannau Brecheiniog National Park, Wales

When – 20 – 23 August 2026

Nestled amidst the gently rolling hills of Bannau Brecheiniog National Park in Wales, Green Man is back with another mesmerising programme of music, comedy, science, and arts designed to tantalise the senses. Part of a typically eclectic line-up, this year’s headliners include indie aficionados Wilco and modern-day rock band Wolf Alice, whose recent album, In Bloom, saw them nominated for a second Mercury Prize in 2025. Arguably the best part about Green Man, though, is the plethora of other activities on offer, which will see you filling your mornings with yoga and your evenings with toasted marshmallows, high on the magic of the Welsh mountain air. EW

All Points East

Where – Victoria Park, London

When – 21 – 30 August 2026

Its cool crowd and impressive line-ups have earned All Points East comparisons to California’s Coachella music festival – albeit smaller and with far fewer influencers. It’s a bit of a stretch given the California event is one of the biggest festivals in the world, but at least here you’re not shelling out $70 for tacos (it’s more like £18). Anyway, by now All Points East is a staple of any festival-lover’s culture calendar.

Descending on Victoria Park this year are soul stars Jorja Smith and Tems, as well as two sets from Tyler, the Creator in what will be the American rapper’s UK exclusive. Headlining with support from PinkPantheress, fresh off her own headliner-in-the-making Coachella set of her own, is none other than Lorde. For the moody alt-rockers out there, both old and new thanks to a recent revival of early Noughties metal, Deftones are back in the UK – it’s been 31 years since their debut album, but hits like “Nosebleed” feel as fresh and immediate as ever. Likewise, nostalgia runs deep for Twenty One Pilots who will be making their APE debut on 30 August. Annabel Nugent

Reading / Leeds

Where – Rivermead Park, Reading / Bramham Park, Leeds

When – 27 30 August 2026

Shrugging off any preconceived stereotypes of a festival overrun by excitable teenagers, Reading and Leeds have announced a line-up that is certainly not to be sniffed at. So, if Gen-Z artists Sombr, Role Model, and Raye aren’t your thing, the subversive sounds of Kneecap, Geese, and Men I Trust just might be. Meanwhile, for those whose tastes lie closer to the club, check out Mall Grab and Hybrid Minds on the brand new Warehouse stage for a party that won’t disappoint. EW

A town council has increased its portion of the council tax bill by nearly 70%

A man has been arrested on suspicion of fraud believed to be linked to a nearly 70% council tax precept rise. In February, Cambourne Town Council agreed to increase its council tax precept to £1,493,098, which was a 68% increase from the previous financial year.

The rise left a number of Cambourne residents angry, with one resident branding it as “ridiculous”. The town council admitted that “restricted funds, including S106 monies, were previously used for revenue expenditure when they should not have been”, a spokesperson previously told CambridgeshireLive.

A 63-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with the precept rise. A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday (April 15), a 63-year-old man from St Ives was arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position. He has been bailed until July 15.”

A Cambourne Town Council spokesperson said: “As there is an active criminal investigation, the Council is not able to comment on specific matters. We are complying fully with all legal obligations and will provide further information when it is lawful and appropriate to do so.”

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Millions of Amazon Kindle devices are going to stop working within weeks in what one book-lover has called a ‘nightmare’.

The tech giant informed Kindle lovers in an email last week stating that Amazon Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released during or before 2012 will no longer be supported from May 20.

This means that anyone using the affected devices, which rely on online services, will no longer be able to download new e-books, effectively ‘bricking’ the devices.

Which Amazon Kindles are becoming unusable?

Experts estimate this move, which comes after Amazon dropped support for its Fire TV Blaster, will impact around two million devices, but which?

• Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
• Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 and 2010)
• Kindle Keyboard (2010)
• Kindle 4 (2011)
• Kindle Touch (2011)
• Kindle 5 (2012)
• Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
• Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011)
• Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012)
• Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)

What can I no longer do on these Kindles?

Amazon says that users will still be able to flip through already downloaded ebooks and their Kindle Library will remain accessible on the smartphone app and the Kindle website.

But it warned that deregistering or performing a factory reset on the older Kindles will make them unusable, and users will no longer be able to reregister it or use the device in any way.

On Kindle Fire devices, users will no longer be able to purchase or download content. All other services will remain operational.

In its recently updated support page, Amazon also confirmed that the gadget’s ‘Send to Kindle’ feature will no longer work, and users will be forced to use a USB cable to transfer any documents to e-readers.

Amazon should have already emailed you if you own one of these bricks-to-be, but you can use this page to find out which model you have.

To soften the blow, Amazon is offering longtime users a promotional code for 20% of some Kindle devices, as well as book credits if they purchase a new device before June 20.

Tech expert Paolo Pescatore says that as much as Amazon’s decision is ‘frustrating’ for users, stopping support for older models makes sense from a security perspective.

‘The challenge is that these devices were built for a different era and are not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services and features,’ he tells Metro.

‘On top of that, supporting ageing hardware becomes harder as older chipsets, components and software stacks lose broader industry support.’

Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the Restart Project, which teaches people how to refurbish their old tech, says Amazon will brick two million devices.

Vallauri tells Metro that while this will only impact 3% of users, it’s the latest example of ‘software obsolescence’, leading to 624 tons of e-waste.

‘We’ve seen it all before,’ he says. ‘Manufacturers of all kinds of products.

‘Amazon claims that new models provide better performance when deciding to stop supporting products they’ve already sold to consumers. However, that’s hardly a good reason for soft-bricking millions of still functioning devices.’

‘By offering a discount to buy a new device, Amazon is implicitly inviting people to upgrade and recycle their existing, functioning device.’

‘I made the intentional choice not to trust Amazon’

Book-lovers have criticised the move. Among them is Daria Ershova, a PR worker in Belgrade, Serbia, who has owned a Kindle since 2017. Her mum, meanwhile, has been reading books on the device for 13 years.

‘What frustrates me most is the logic of it,’ Daria, 24, tells Metro.

‘If a device works perfectly fine, cutting off its access to new content is a bad business decision.

‘And it’s one that punishes exactly the kind of customer Amazon should want to keep: people who’ve been in their ecosystem for a decade.’

Some social media users fear that the move was to force more people to use updated Kindle models that display adverts.

New Kindle models display ads for books and sponsored screensavers on the home page and lock screen, which can be removed for a fee.

Amazon’s announcement has left people who own e-readers not produced by the American corporation worried that their devices could be next.

One social media user told Metro that he bought an e-device by the Canadian company Kobo for this very reason.

‘I am a bit worried that I’ll eventually need to replace my Kobo and would rather refurbish it,’ he says.

‘I’d be more worried if I had a Kindle but I made the intentional choice not to trust Amazon.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: ‘Our London market is being closed down for a Whole Foods – we’re a victim of gentrification’

MORE: Full list of Amazon Kindles that will become unusable in weeks

MORE: Amazon driver facing jail after casually stealing family’s cat from front garden

England’s Lionesses are no strangers to making history.

The past decade has been rich in landmark moments; a first tournament medal, a first major trophy, and a first title defence – on foreign soil to boot.

When Sarina Wiegman’s side play Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday (17:30 BST) they will reach another milestone – the 500th fixture for England’s senior women’s team.

The game is important for securing qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil, with England keen to win more silverware in the famous white shirt.

But regardless of the result, the match will be etched in history as a reminder of how far the English women’s game has come.

In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women’s football, considering the game “most unsuitable for females”, external.

The decision consigned women’s football to park pitches and small venues for half a century before the decision was overturned in 1971.

To mark 500 not out, BBC Sport takes a look at 11 defining moments in the history of England’s women.

“But, in saying that, watching him, his energy, his intensity of how he pressed and ran for the team and defended, they are all really, really good signs in terms of his fitness. And if he stays in that place, his quality will take over and he’ll be massive for us between now and the end of the season.”

Bitcoin has long been promised to function as money. In practice, it rarely does.

While 99% of transactions are still speculative trading, for as long as bitcoin has been a thing it has been used to skirt governments’ economic controls. Cryptocurrencies are particularly attractive for countries facing sanctions.

The Iranian government is considering charging oil tankers for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in cryptocurrency. The reports have excited the bitcoin community with crypto markets jumping slightly in response. “Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given a few seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they can’t be traced or confiscated due to sanctions”, an Iranian government spokesperson told the Financial Times.

$2 million per ship – in crypto

According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, Iran’s armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has accepted payments from ship operators since March, charging up to US$2 million per vessel to transit the strait. Payment can be made not only in bitcoin but also in Chinese yuan or the dollar-pegged “stablecoin” tether.

For shipping companies, the details remain unclear. But many ships are unlikely to set sail without assurances of safe passage from the IRGC.

The US has taken a hard line. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of extortion and stated that the US would hunt down and intercept any ships in international waters that paid the Iranian tolls.

The stalemate is likely to tighten an already narrow choke point. The war has reduced the passage of tankers to a trickle.

Practical problems

Our research has examined how individuals and governments facing sanctions use cryptocurrencies as a way to buy and sell oil, raise hard currency and sidestep economic embargoes. Iran is no stranger to crypto shenanigans. Around 4.5% of all bitcoin mining takes place there, allowing the country to purchase imports and bypass US sanctions.

Yet implementing a bitcoin-based toll system without US approval is not straightforward. Shipping companies will struggle to buy enough cryptocurrency from exchanges without alerting US regulators.

As the US has defined the IRGC a terrorist organisation, any exchanges doing business with Iran risk being added to sanctions lists. Two UK-registered crypto exchanges have found themselves in such a predicament this year.

Even if shipping companies had ready access to millions of dollars-worth of crypto, bitcoin is not truly anonymous. All transactions are logged in a transparent ledger, known as a blockchain, and can be traced with ease in real time.

The transit fee has been reported as the equivalent of US$1 per barrel of oil. US enforcement agencies need only check how much oil a ship is carrying and the time the vessel sailed the strait to guess whether or not a toll was paid.

Who wins from crypto crises

Iran’s plan is seemingly a challenge to the dominance of the US dollar in global oil markets. Accepting payment in yuan, in particular, could subvert the so-called “petrodollar” system. One strategist at Deutsche Bank says the conflict could see “the beginnings of the ‘petroyuan’”.

But China and Iran aren’t the only potential beneficiaries. Some of the biggest commercial proponents of bitcoin are US oil firms, like Exxon and ConocoPhillips. Both have been recognised by the World Bank for their “innovations”: using residual gas from oil wells to power their bitcoin mining machines. Both benefit enormously from a high global oil price and spiking crypto markets. By spurring demand for bitcoin, the crypto industry – centred in the US – will also win big.

In times of war, stocks in weapons companies have always been a safe investment. It looks like cryptocurrencies could be joining them. In a forthcoming book I have written with colleagues, Crypto Crises: how digital currencies accelerate global instability, we explain how cryptocurrencies are reproducing and intensifying geopolitical crises, transforming them into new opportunities for states and corporations to extract profits.

Donald Trump and his family seem to recognise this, and have gone all in on crypto. As well as launching their own cryptocurrencies “meme-coins” and crypto businesses, the president recently bet US$1 billion chasing the bitcoin boom from his own pro-crypto reform policies.

Trump himself initially suggested that the US and Iran might levy the Hormuz toll fees as a “joint venture”, declaring that US involvement would be “a beautiful thing”.

Together, these moves point to a broader shift. Bitcoin remains difficult to use on the high street, while its transparent ledger makes it a terrible choice for criminals. Instead, its real use lies elsewhere.

Crypto use is often a symptom of desperation, not innovation. It is being touted during economic blockades or other moments of geopolitical tension, when conventional financial systems are restricted or have broken down. In these circumstances, it can become a makeshift opportunity for survival, or a tool for making quick profits from instability.

Oil prices dropped back to where they were in the early days of the Iran war, and US stocks raced to another record Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open again for commercial tankers carrying crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

The S&P 500 leaped 1.2 per cent to an all-time high and closed out a third straight week of big gains, its longest streak since Halloween. A freer flow of oil could take pressure off prices not only for gasoline but also for groceries and all kinds of other products that get moved by vehicles. It could even ultimately help people pay less on credit-card interest and mortgage bills.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged as many as 1,100 points before paring its gain to 868, or 1.8 per cent. The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.5 per cent.

The US stock market has jumped more than 12 per cent since hitting a bottom in late March on hopes the United States and Iran can avoid a worst-case scenario for the global economy despite their war. Friday’s reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which may only be temporary, is the clearest signal yet for optimism, and president Donald Trump said late Thursday that the war “should be ending pretty soon”.

The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude plunged immediately after Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, posted on X that passage for all commercial vessels through the strait “is declared completely open” as a ceasefire appears to be holding in Lebanon. He said it would stay open for the remaining period of the ceasefire, and the price for U.S. oil dropped 9.4 per cent to settle at $82.59 per barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard, fell 9.1 per cent to settle at $90.38 per barrel. To be sure, it remains above its $70 price from before the war, indicating some caution is still embedded in financial markets.

US stocks are heading toward the end of a third straight week of big gains.

Several times since the war began, optimism on Wall Street has quickly deteriorated into doubt about a possible end to the fighting. That in turn has caused vicious and sudden swings of prices for everything from stocks to bonds to oil.

Minutes after the Iranian foreign minister’s announcement of the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening, Mr Trump said on his social media network that the US navy’s blockade of Iranian ports remains “in full force” until both sides reach a deal on the war. He, though, also suggested that “should go very quickly in that most of the points are already negotiated” and emphasized it by using all capital letters.

Companies with big fuel bills soared to some of Wall Street’s biggest gains following the easing of oil prices.

United Airlines flew 7.1 per cent higher, and Southwest Airlines climbed 5.1 per cent. A day earlier, the head of the International Energy Agency had said that Europe has “maybe six weeks or so” of remaining jet fuel supplies.

Operators of cruise ships, which guzzle fuel, also steamed higher. Royal Caribbean Group gained 7.3 per cent and Carnival rose 7 per cent.

Housing and auto-related companies likewise got some relief from the drop in oil prices.

With less threat of high inflation hurting the economy, a sustained drop in oil prices could convince the Federal Reserve to resume its cuts to interest rates to help the economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 4.24 per cent from 4.32 per cent late Thursday, and lower yields can bring down rates for mortgages and other loans going to U.S. households and businesses.

Builders FirstSource, a supplier of windows and other products, rose 5.5 per cent, and homebuilder PulteGroup gained 5 per cent on hopes that lower mortgage rates will spur more people to buy houses. Carvana climbed 7 per cent because lower loan rates can get more customers into new autos.

A strong start to the earnings reporting season for big U.S. companies has also helped support the U.S. stock market, and more financial companies joined the list delivering bigger profits for the start of 2026 than analysts expected.

State Street rose 2.5 per cent, and Fifth Third Bancorp added 1.7 per cent after both reported better results for the latest quarter than expected.

They helped offset a 9.7 per cent slide for Netflix, which fell even though it delivered a better profit than expected. It did not raise its forecast for revenue growth for the full year, which analysts said may have disappointed some investors.

It also said Reed Hastings, cofounder and chairman of the streaming company, will step down from its board of directors in June when his term expires.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 84.78 points to 7,126.06. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 868.71 to 49,447.43, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 365.78 to 24,468.48.

In stock markets abroad, stock indexes leaped in Europe following Iran’s announcement about the Strait of Hormuz. France’s CAC 40 jumped 2 per cent, and Germany’s DAX returned 2.3 per cent.

In Asia, where trading finished for the day before the announcement, indexes were weaker. Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 1.8 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.9 per cent for two of the bigger losses.