THE NEW YORK TIMES: Investors appear to be treating an end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as a foregone conclusion.
The S&P 500 approached a fresh record high on Wednesday, reflecting investors’ optimism that a peace deal would be reached before the war in Iran could inflict significant damage on corporate America, even as a spike in oil prices has led to a gloomier economic outlook.
In early afternoon trading, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent, putting the widely watched index on track to end the day above its previous peak, reached in January. The index had already erased its losses during the war in Iran and now sits nearly 2 percent higher than it was before the fighting began in late February.
Investors have been embracing signals in recent days that the United States and Iran could restart talks that ended last weekend in Pakistan without a deal but with comments from President Trump that he believed the war was nearing an end.
The mere posture toward peace has helped to placate the stock market. Since the cease-fire took hold last week, investors have noted a shift in tone by the Trump administration that reflects a desire to end the conflict soon. » | Joe Rennison | Wednesday, April 15, 2026