Dan Schwartzman

On the news, Israel will hold direct talks with Lebanon and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire appears to be holding up.

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Well, the Nasdaq gained over eight-tenths of one percent.

The 10-year Treasury yield is at 4.290%.

The two-year yield is at 3.782%.

More details emerging on the upcoming direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.

Negotiations will begin next week at the State Department in Washington, with Israel represented by Ambassador to the U.S.

Yechiel Leiter, while Lebanon will be represented by its Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

That's according to Axios' Barak Ravid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced direct talks would occur, saying, quote, in light of Lebanon's repeated calls to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its assault of Hezbollah, with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz saying over 200 Hezbollah militants were killed on Wednesday, with 1,400 Hezbollah militants killed since the start of operations.

Bloomberg's Tyler Kendall gives us more details on the ongoing situation with Lebanon.

That's Bloomberg's Tyler Kendall.

You can hear more of the conversation on the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast.

The White House says the U.S.

will hold direct talks with Iran and Islamabad Pakistan starting on Saturday, with Vice President J.D.

Vance expected to lead the American delegation.

Both sides so far have appeared to have paused strikes across the region after President Trump's announcement of a truce after nearly six weeks of fighting.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is little changed, even as a handful of Chinese vessels lined up to exit the Gulf.