Despite high-profile assassinations by Israel in Iran and increased oil prices, U.S. stock markets ended with modest gains, driven by a late-day rally in technology shares. The Standard and Poor's 500 added 16.71 points to settle at 6,716.09, marking a gain of 0.25 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also posted a gain, but the broader market closed in positive territory despite a subdued session. The U.K. dollar was mixed against major peers, losing ground against the euro and sterling, while remaining steady against the yen and strengthening slightly against the Canadian dollar. Major European stock markets saw strong gains driven by positive corporate earnings and investor optimism, while key Asian markets saw slight declines.