Mediators from Qatar and Egypt restarted ceasefire talks after weekend negotiations broke down over sequencing and monitoring demands. Diplomats said both sides returned to the table under pressure from aid agencies and international partners.

Officials cautioned that the renewed discussions remain fragile, but described the return to talks as a meaningful step after several days of deadlock.

Several consumer-facing companies reported better-than-expected quarterly results, helped by resilient travel demand and improved pricing discipline. Shares in airlines, hotel groups, and selected retailers moved higher after the reports.

Analysts said the results suggest spending remains uneven rather than broadly weak, with service-heavy sectors still outperforming goods in several markets.

Forecasters warned that dry-soil conditions are expanding across parts of South America and southern Europe ahead of the spring planting cycle. Agronomists said low reservoir levels and poor subsoil moisture could weigh on yields if rainfall does not recover quickly.

Commodity traders are watching the forecasts closely because even modest crop stress could tighten already-fragile supply balances in grains and oilseeds.