The S&P 500 rose 0.26% to settle at 7,041.28, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.36% to close at 24,102.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 115 points, or 0.24%, ending at 48,578.72.
That optimism was reinforced after Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting 5 p.m. ET, following his conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A pause in hostilities between Israel and Lebanon has been a key condition for advancing US-Iran negotiations.
Trump added that the next round of US-Iran talks could take place “probably, maybe, next weekend,” reiterating earlier remarks that the war is “very close to over.”
Markets responded quickly. Stocks moved higher after the announcement, building on an already strong run that saw the S&P 500 erase all losses since the start of the conflict earlier this week.
Stocks have risen in recent days on hopes for an eventual peace deal between the two nations. The S&P 500 kicked off the week by wiping out all of its losses since the beginning of the Iran war.
The momentum has also been supported by milestones. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 closed above 7,000 for the first time, while the Nasdaq notched its first close above 24,000 and extended its winning streak to 11 consecutive sessions, its longest since November 2021.
Earnings and macro data add to the mix. On the earnings front, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and PepsiCo beat expectations on both revenue and profit, while Charles Schwab reported better-than-expected earnings but missed on revenue. Netflix is scheduled to report after the closing bell.
Economic data painted a mixed picture. Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000 for the week ended April 11, indicating a stable labour market. However, industrial production declined 0.5% in March, missing expectations of a 0.1% increase.
First Published: Apr 17, 2026 1:44 AM IST
