Stock Market Rises Amid Hope for U.S.-Iran War Resolution Stocks surged on Wednesday as optimism grew that a resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict was nearing, with the S&P 500 climbing 1.2%, the Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 452 points, or 1%. Oil prices dipped, with West Texas Intermediate futures falling 2% to trade above $99 per barrel and Brent crude futures declining 3% to near $100 a barrel. The market’s optimism was fueled by President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s leader had requested a ceasefire, though the U.S. would only consider the offer if the Strait of Hormuz remained “open, free, and clear.” Trump added that until then, the U.S. would continue its military actions against Iran. The president’s remarks came after he told reporters at the White House late Tuesday that U.S. forces would withdraw from Iran in “two or three weeks.” Analysts noted that the market was “sniffing out” a potential resolution, with Patrick Ryan, chief investment strategist at Madison Investments, stating that the market was “kind of just sniffing out that there’s probably some type of resolution in the next couple of weeks.” However, Ryan warned that volatility could persist unless there was an “all-clear announcement” on the war’s path forward. Investors were set to receive further clarity on Wednesday evening, when Trump was scheduled to address the nation to provide an update. The stock market’s rally was also bolstered by other developments. Five S&P 500 stocks hit new 52-week highs, including Pfizer, Ross Stores, Equinix, Sempra, and Entergy, while 10 stocks reached new lows, such as Nike, Visa, and Global Payments. Nike’s shares fell 14.#us #iran #spacex #donald_trump #ism_manufacturing_index
