03:56 PM EDT, 06/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Tuesday after oil prices dropped further following a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

* US President Donald Trump confirmed publicly that Israel would not carry out additional strikes on Iran, strengthening hopes that the fragile ceasefire he helped negotiate would remain in place.

* Investors were also reassured by comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who indicated that the central bank remains focused on potential downside risks. During his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Powell suggested that if inflation comes in lower than expected or the labor market weakens, an interest rate cut could happen sooner than the market currently expects.

* August West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $3.50 to settle at $65.01 per barrel, while August Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $3.71 to $67.77.

* Uber Technologies ( UBER ) saw a roughly 7.7% increase in its shares after announcing the launch of autonomous ride-hailing services in Atlanta, in partnership with Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Waymo.

* Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) shares dropped about 3.4% despite Raymond James raising its price target from $51 to $55.