04:22 PM EDT, 04/07/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were mixed on Tuesday as crude oil prices fell while hopes of an agreement between the US and Iran before Trump's deadline faded amid reports that Tehran cut off direct communications with the US.

* "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump said in a Truth Social post as his Tuesday 8 pm ET deadline for Iran to reach a ceasefire deal.

* Iran cut off direct communications with the US over the threat, though talks with mediators continue, the Wall Street Journal reported.

* New orders for US durable goods fell by 1.4% in February, following a smaller 0.5% decrease, below expectations for a 1.2% decrease in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $0.34 to settle at $112.07 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $2.40 at $107.28.

* Health insurance stocks rose after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a larger-than-expected increase to Medicare Advantage payments for 2027. Humana (HUM) shares were up 7.9%, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) rose 9.4%, and CVS Health ( CVS ) gained 6.7%.

* Kimberly-Clark ( KMB ) shares fell 5.2% after UBS lowered its price target on the stock to $105 from $110 and maintained a neutral rating.