Friday, May 1, 2026
Global markets and policymakers on May 1 focused on the fallout from the U.S.-Iran confrontation and signs of possible diplomacy. Iran said it had sent a new proposal for peace talks to the United States through mediators in Pakistan, while President Donald Trump said pressure on Tehran would remain in place, including a naval blockade that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices fell on hopes for negotiations, but supply-chain and food-security concerns remained acute, with fertilizer producer Yara warning that prolonged disruption could put billions of meals at risk through lower crop yields and higher prices. [CBS News] [CNBC] [BBC]
Corporate earnings and equities also drove the day’s agenda, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pushing to fresh highs as investors reacted to stronger-than-expected Apple results and a solid revenue outlook despite ongoing component shortages. Apple said demand for iPhones and Macs remained strong, though CEO Tim Cook warned that memory constraints could persist in coming quarters. In Washington, the House approved legislation to restore funding and end a record partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown, while May Day demonstrations were set to draw crowds across the United States over labor, immigration and cost-of-living issues. [CNBC] [CBS News] [NPR]
Iran said on May 1 that it had submitted a new proposal for talks to end the war with the United States, using Pakistani mediators, as the Strait of Hormuz remained at the center of the standoff. Oil prices fell after reports of the proposal, but the U.S. blockade and uncertainty over regional security continued to threaten energy and commodity flows.
The U.S. House on April 30 approved a Senate-passed bill to restore funding to most agencies in the Department of Homeland Security, ending what CBS described as a record partial shutdown. The measure had already passed the Senate overwhelmingly and now heads for implementation as lawmakers try to avoid further disruption to border, emergency-management and security operations.
U.S. stocks rose on May 1, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching fresh highs as Apple shares advanced following quarterly results and a stronger-than-expected forecast. Apple said it was managing through shortages, but Tim Cook warned investors that memory supply constraints could continue, underscoring broader technology supply-chain stress.
Organizers said thousands of people were expected to join May Day actions on May 1 in U.S. cities under slogans including “no school, no work, no shopping,” with demonstrations focused on immigration, labor rights and economic pressures. The actions were planned against a backdrop of national debate over wages, public services and federal policy.
Former President Joe Biden on May 1 endorsed former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor of Georgia, his first endorsement since leaving office last year. The move gives Bottoms a high-profile Democratic backer as the party prepares for a competitive statewide race in a key Southern battleground.
The U.S. Justice Department on May 1 released surveillance footage that prosecutors say shows the man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner casing a hotel. The release comes as federal prosecutors build their case and seek to show planning and intent.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order suspending the state’s House primaries until at least July 15 following a Supreme Court ruling affecting redistricting. The delay applies to House contests but not the Senate primary, adding uncertainty to the state’s 2026 election calendar.
Israel released all but two activists in Greece after intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza, according to the BBC on May 1. The flotilla’s organizers called the seizure piracy, while Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the effort as a publicity stunt, highlighting intensifying disputes over access to Gaza.
Myanmar’s military said Nobel laureate and former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been transferred from detention to house arrest, a significant development after her imprisonment following the 2021 coup. Reuters also reported that her legal team planned to meet her this weekend.
The United States imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, alleging support for rebels and efforts to destabilize the government. Kabila had not publicly responded as of May 1, and the move adds pressure in a region facing persistent armed conflict.
Authorities in Australia appealed for calm after unrest broke out outside a hospital where a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old Aboriginal girl was being treated. The case prompted riots and heightened tensions in the affected town.
Apple reported strong quarterly results and gave a solid outlook, helping lift major U.S. indexes on May 1. The company said iPhone and Mac demand remained robust, though it warned of continued memory shortages that could constrain future supply.
Exxon Mobil and Chevron reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit on May 1 as higher oil and gas prices linked to the Iran conflict offset operational pressures. Exxon CEO Darren Woods warned that export bans and price caps would worsen global energy strains.
Occidental Petroleum CEO Vicki Hollub will retire next month, ending a tenure that began in 2016 and made her the first woman to lead a major U.S. oil company. Chief Operating Officer Richard Jackson is set to take over.
U.S. manufacturing grew for a fourth straight month in April, but input-cost pressures intensified, with the ISM prices-paid gauge reaching a four-year high of 84.6. The data pointed to continued industrial resilience alongside inflation risks tied partly to higher energy costs.
Apple said on May 1 that strong demand helped drive a strong quarter, but CEO Tim Cook warned that the company faces an extended memory crunch that could affect Macs and other products in coming quarters. The warning reinforced investor concern about component bottlenecks across the AI and device supply chain.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over Nvidia H200 chip sales to China after conflicting public statements from Lutnick and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The inquiry underscores ongoing scrutiny of advanced semiconductor exports and national-security controls.
The U.S. Defense Department entered agreements with seven AI companies for classified work, while maintaining restrictions on Anthropic over supply-chain concerns, according to CNBC and the Wall Street Journal. The deals expand the Pentagon’s pool of AI providers at a time of heightened focus on defense technology.
Security researchers and hosting providers said hackers are actively exploiting a vulnerability in cPanel, software used to manage millions of websites. One company told TechCrunch the flaw had been abused for months, prompting urgent patching across hosting services.
A CBS News report examined whether the Federal Communications Commission could seek to revoke local TV licenses tied to ABC amid a dispute involving President Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The report said any such move would face major legal and constitutional hurdles because the FCC licenses local stations, not networks directly.
Vue CEO Tim Richards said cinema attendance demand is “higher than ever” and argued that both traditional studios and streaming companies remain committed to theatrical releases. His remarks come as exhibitors seek to sustain the post-pandemic recovery in box office performance.
The Wall Street Journal reported on May 1 that horse racing is using influencers to draw younger fans during Kentucky Derby weekend, including social-media creator Griffin Johnson, who has more than 12 million followers. The effort reflects the sport’s push to expand its audience as one of the biggest U.S. racing events begins.
Apollo Sports Capital and investor Tom Dundon made a $225 million investment in Pickleball Inc., bringing total funding to $315 million. The deal points to continued institutional interest in emerging sports properties and commercial expansion of pickleball in the United States.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said on May 1 that the Saudi-backed ownership group’s desire for success had not changed, a day after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said it would cut LIV Golf funding after the 2026 season. The comments were part of wider scrutiny of Saudi sports investments.
Members of NASA’s Artemis II crew appeared on U.S. television on May 1 to discuss the cramped Orion capsule, in-flight equipment problems including a broken toilet, and the next planned missions in NASA’s return-to-the-moon program. NASA is aiming for a crewed lunar landing mission later in the decade.
Bill Nye appeared on “CBS Mornings” on May 1 to demonstrate experiments explaining the Artemis II mission, as public interest remains high following the crew’s recent flight around the far side of the moon. The segment focused on how mission physics and spacecraft design support NASA’s broader lunar plans.
AstraZeneca shares dropped on May 1 after an FDA advisory panel voted against backing the company’s cancer drug camizestrant, saying trial evidence did not sufficiently show that early switching improved long-term survival. The decision is a setback for one of the company’s oncology pipeline candidates.
A new clinical trial found that semaglutide, the GLP-1 drug used in obesity treatment, reduced heavy drinking among people with obesity who were seeking treatment for alcohol-use disorder. The findings add to growing research on possible uses of GLP-1 medicines beyond weight loss and diabetes.
Moderna reported higher first-quarter revenue driven by international COVID-19 vaccine sales, though the company still posted a loss. CEO Stephane Bancel said the company is pursuing growth through newer products including flu shots and cancer programs.