S&P 500 and Nasdaq Scale Records as Iran Peace Hopes Boost Markets
S&P 500 closed at 7,022.95 and Nasdaq at 24,016.02 as investors reacted to hopes of an end to the U.S.-Iran war and upbeat bank earnings.
CNBCStock futures are little changed following a record-setting day for S&P 500 and Nasdaq: Live updates
Epoch TimesHow Major US Stock Indexes Fared April 15
CBS NewsS&P 500, Nasdaq hit record highs as investors shrug off Iran war fears
PBS NewsHourWall Street hits record as S&P 500 continues 2-week rally, boosted by hopes for Iran war's end
Overview
The S&P 500 closed at 7,022.95 and the Nasdaq Composite rose to 24,016.02, both record highs, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished broadly flat.
Investors reacted to hopes the U.S.-Iran war will ease after President Donald Trump said the fighting is "very close to over" and a White House official said a second round of negotiations is under discussion.
Bank of America and Morgan Stanley posted quarterly results that beat estimates, and strategists said consumer and corporate activity appeared resilient, bolstering sentiment.
The S&P rose about 0.8% and the Nasdaq about 1.6% in the session, the Nasdaq logged its 11th straight gain, and U.S. stock futures were little changed afterward.
Traders will watch weekly jobless claims, March capacity utilization and industrial production, and upcoming earnings including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft that are scheduled next week.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present a neutral, markets-first account, grounding claims in specific data (S&P/Dow/Nasdaq moves, crude prices) and attributing evaluative lines to officials and analysts rather than asserting them. They balance geopolitical context (ceasefire, U.S. blockade) with economic indicators (IMF growth/inflation), minimizing editorializing and prioritizing sourced attribution.