S&P 500 rises to a new record for the first time since January

The U.S. broad market index S&P 500 rose to a new record during trading on Wednesday, April 15. The index reached a maximum of 7008.45 points by the time of publication of this text. The S&P 500 hit a new high for the first time since January 28, when it rose to 7002.28 points. The index could also set a record closing high if it holds at current levels.

The S&P 500 at trading on Wednesday rose by about 0.5%. "Technological" Nasdaq Composite added more than 1%, while the index of "blue chips" Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 0.3%. The Russell 2000 index of small and mid-capitalization companies was falling within 0.2%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), known as the Wall Street Fear Index, was down 1% to about 18.1 points. The psychological mark indicating high volatility is considered to be 20 points.

Brent crude oil rose about 0.6% to $95.5 per barrel. May futures for U.S. oil WTI added 1% and cost $92.1 per barrel.

Optimism in the stock market is associated with hopes for a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran. According to a Bloomberg source, the parties are considering the possibility of extending the truce, which expires on Tuesday, April 21.

"The lack of pain has triggered this market rally, and technical indicators support a further rally in equities and bonds," said TS Lombard senior U.S. economist Stephen Blitz in a Bloomberg statement.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor