LONDON/SYDNEY - World ‍stocks gained on Thursday as investors' ‍optimism over earnings held up ahead of Apple's results, while gold blazed to its latest record high and oil prices rose on U.S.-Iran ​tensions. Markets have been counting ⁠on earnings to keep equities in vogue as prospects for U.S. rate cuts before summer fade. Deutsche Bank analysts wrote that its economists "see the Powell-led Fed as having now delivered its last rate cut," adding that "they think risks around their expectation of one rate cut this year in September have become more balanced." Apple results are in focus, with JPMorgan expecting earnings to beat consensus driven by stronger iPhone 17 demand and slower growth in ⁠expenses. The euro added another 0.2% to $1.1979, while the dollar lost 0.3% on the Swiss franc to 0.7658.