The benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq each rallied to their third record close in a row on Friday, while the blue-chip Dow marked its highest finish since late February, as investors cheered Iran’s decision to open the Strait of Hormuz and were optimistic it could reach a deal with the United States to end their war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X that passage ‌for all commercial vessels ⁠through the ⁠Strait of Hormuz was “completely open” after a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. This followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that talks could take place this weekend between Tehran and Washington and that they could soon secure a peace agreement to end the Iran war, which has left thousands dead since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28. While statements from both sides left uncertainty over how quickly shipping could resume, U.S. crude oil prices tumbled more than 11%, alleviating inflation concerns. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global energy transportation.

“The concern about oil putting the world into a slowdown diminishes as it’s onward and upward for a possible final deal,” said Bob Doll, CEO of Crossmark, who noted that while there is still no signed U.S.-Iran deal, “it ⁠looks like ‌it’s heading in a direction that’s enough for the market to go up.”

The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 365.78 points, or 1.52%, to 24,468.48, for its 13th consecutive advance, marking its longest winning streak since 1992.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 868.71 points, or 1.79%, to 49,447.43, ⁠the S&P 500 gained 84.78 points, or 1.20%, to 7,126.06.

Unofficially, for the week, the S&P 500 gained 4.53%, the Nasdaq rose 6.84%, and the Dow climbed 3.2%.
ENERGY STOCKS SLIDE AS OIL TUMBLES The small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed large-cap gains, closing up 2.1%, and also registered a record closing high after it earlier hit its first intraday record high since the war erupted. “Energy prices coming down has a bigger impact on small caps because they have tighter margins,” said Nick Johnson, CEO and CIO of Willis Johnson & Associates, adding, “it’s starting to become clear that the U.S. and Iran want to see this behind them.”

Among the S&P 500’s 11 major industry sectors, energy was the biggest loser, ending down 2.9%, with Exxon Mobil, down 3.6%, and Chevron, 2.2%, creating the benchmark’s second and third biggest drags on the day.

The biggest gainer was consumer discretionary, which ‌finished up just under 2%, with cruise operators leading its advances. Royal Caribbean jumped 7.3% while Carnival rose 7%. Industrials was the second strongest sector, finishing up 1.8% with airline United Airlines up 7%, and leading its percentage gains.

CAUTION PERSISTS ON STRAIT PASSAGE Still, some analysts cautioned that logistical challenges remain for shippers.

“Ship operators still ⁠face astronomical war-risk insurance premiums, potential mine hazards, and uncertainty about enforcement,” said Erik Bethel, general partner at maritime-focused investment firm Mare Liberum. The S&P’s biggest drag was from Netflix, which tumbled 9.7% after forecasting current-quarter earnings below expectations. The company also announced the exit of co-founder and longtime Chairman Reed Hastings, ending a 29-year tenure.

Alcoa shares ended down 6.8% after the aluminum producer reported first-quarter profit and revenue below analysts’ estimates, citing elevated costs and softening demand.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 4.03-to-1 ratio on the New York Stock Exchange, where there were 623 new highs and 46 new lows. On the Nasdaq, 3,685 stocks rose and 1,183 fell as advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.11-to-1 ratio. The S&P 500 posted 49 new 52-week highs and no new lows.

Volume was relatively strong on U.S. exchanges, where 20.29 billion shares changed hands, compared with the 19.12 billion moving average for the last 20 sessions.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Mumbai: Indian equity gauges, battered in March due to the Iran war, eked out gains for the second straight week Friday on expectations the recent overtures of peace by both Iran and the US would move beyond tokenism into durable peace for a region that slakes the energy thirst of the world’s fastest-expanding major economy.

Recent gains for the rupee, which last fiscal ended up with the wooden spoon among Asian peers against the dollar, and expectations of further reduction in oil prices boosted equities such that investors were willing to bet beyond the frontliners, spotlighting appetite for stocks that are higher up the risk gradient.

The NSE’s Nifty rose 156.8 points or 0.65% to close at 24,353.55. BSE’s Sensex rose 504.86 points or 0.65% to end at 78,493.54. Both indices gained up to 1.3% this week. The Nifty had lost nearly 11% in March, its worst monthly fall since the Covid, as the rupee plunged in FY26 the most in 14 years in a pronouncedly backloaded retreat.

“This week’s gains were led by easing tensions in West Asia. As long as the conflict remains contained, with cooling oil prices and rupee strength, the positive bias is likely to persist,” said Sunny Agrawal, head of research, SBI Securities.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan fell 1.8%, China declined 0.1%, Hong Kong fell 0.9%, South Korea declined 0.6%, and Taiwan dropped 0.9%. The pan-Europe index Stoxx 600 was flat at the time of going to print.

Brent crude June futures eased to around $89 a barrel on Friday evening after swinging above and below the $100 mark through much of the week.
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran has yielded ground in ongoing talks to bring the seven-week conflict to an end. Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has strengthened expectations of a wider de-escalation.

Beyond Headlines
Among the broad market indices, the Nifty Mid Cap 150 gained 1.2% and Nifty Small Cap 250 rose 1.5%. For the week, both gauges gained 3.5-4.4%.

Out of the total 4,493 stocks traded on the BSE, 2,999 advanced and 1,327 had declined at close.

The Volatility Index or VIX, the market’s fear gauge, fell 4.9% to 17.21 levels on Friday, indicating some cool-off in traders’ risk perception. The index has declined over 19% in the past five trading sessions.

The rally could still run into headwinds, said analysts.

The Nifty index is now approaching a crucial resistance zone of 24,300-24,500, where profit booking could emerge, according to Mehul Kothari, DVP – technical research, Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers.

“From a technical perspective, the recent rally has been largely one-sided, and early signs of negative divergence are beginning to appear on the hourly charts,” he said. “This suggests that momentum may be slowing, even as prices continue to edge higher, and as a result, a short-term pullback towards the 23,600-23,700 zone cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Foreign portfolio investors net bought shares worth ₹683 crore. Domestic institutions were sellers to the tune of ₹4,721 crore.