WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Negotiators reached a phased deal on Wednesday to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. and Qatar said, after 15 months of bloodshed that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and inflamed the Middle East.
The complex accord outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Here are some investor and analyst reactions to the deal:
STEPHEN MASSOCCA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, WEDBUSH SECURITIES, SAN FRANCISCO
"It looks like Gaza might be coming to a conclusion, that's bullish. Not much of a reaction, I don't think the market is really focused on it. If we can achieve the same thing in Ukraine, these are all good for the economy, they are good for inflation, they are good for the market, ultimately."
PHIL BLANCATO, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, OSAIC WEALTH, NEW YORK
"That's a relatively important piece of information. If you think about the incoming administration's commitment, it certainly is to end both wars. But beyond that, turmoil in the Middle East is problematic from the idea of the global price of oil. Stability in the Middle East may takes one of those worries out of the market."
ART HOGAN, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, B. RILEY WEALTH, NEW YORK
"It's clearly an unambiguous positive for the markets and certainly for global markets. I think it's going to take a bit longer for this to settle in to the news flow, especially in a market that was already up, but this is clearly something that will prove to be an unambiguous positive."
"The overarching positive of all of this will likely start settling in the weeks to come, and not necessarily this afternoon."
SAM STOVALL, CHIEF INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, CFRA RESEARCH, NEW YORK
"Since geopolitical tensions are one of the bricks in this wall of worry that the market is climbing, it's good to have at least one source removed. The only question is whether this can be extended, since tensions always seem to flare up in the Middle East."
"Investors now have more than one reason to breathe a sigh of relief today after the CPI data and this news from Gaza. Stock market headwinds are less of a hurricane and more of a gentle breeze."
MICHAEL BROWN, SENIOR RESEARCH STRATEGIST, PEPPERSTONE, LONDON
"This news was very much expected and had been hinted at quite strongly in recent sessions so shan't have come as a surprise to most participants."
"I suppose at the margin it reduces geopolitical risk to a degree, though the question now is how long the ceasefire holds for. The situation in the Middle East, as ever, is a precarious and volatile one, so I doubt anyone will be rushing to buy risk or unwind their safe haven hedges just yet - certainly not with Trump’s inauguration on Monday looming large on the horizon."
CHUCK CARLSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HORIZON INVESTMENT SERVICES, HAMMOND, INDIANA
"Some of it had already been telegraphed in the market, so I don't think it was a complete surprise... If there is any significant impact, it will be an influence on the energy complex."