New york: US stock markets closed at record highs on Monday as US President Donald Trump announced that Iran would continue negotiations, while European indexes all closed in the red.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Dow Jones rose 0.09%, or 46.42 points, to finish at 51,078.88. The S and P 500 gained 0.26%, or 19.9 points, to close at 7,599.96, while the Nasdaq rose 0.42%, or 114.19 points, to 27,086.81. The Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as the market’s ‘fear index,’ rose 4.77% to 16.05.

On Monday, Iran suspended indirect exchanges and text-sharing with the US through mediators in protest over continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The Intelligence Organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also stated that Tehran views any crossing of what it described as red lines in Lebanon and Gaza as a direct war and an attempt to impose costs on Iran’s national security and the so-called resistance axis.

Trump mentioned he was “going to ask” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “what’s going on with Lebanon.” He added that “all shooting” between Israel and Hezbollah would be halted following a series of phone calls involving both sides, and clarified, “There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.” Trump also stated that he would welcome a period of silence if Iran suspends indirect peace talks with Washington.

Closing before Trump’s statements, European stocks suffered from Middle East tensions as the pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.76% to close at 621.24 points. In national markets, the UK’s FTSE 100 posted a decline, up by 0.68% to 10,338.95, and Germany’s DAX 40 fell 0.4% to 25,003.04 points. France’s CAC 40 decreased 0.45% to 8,146.59, Italy’s FTSE MIB 30 dropped 0.52% to 49,775.16, and Spain’s IBEX 35 was down 0.97% to end at 18,184.90.