Stock Market Today, April 15: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Reach New Highs

The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.80%) rose 0.80% to 7,022.95, and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +1.59%) climbed 1.59% to 24,016.02 as both set new all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.15%) slipped 0.15% to 48,463.72.

Market movers

Bank of America (BAC +1.82%) and Morgan Stanley (MS +4.46%) both gained following strong quarterly earnings today. Shares in popular low-cost broker, Robinhood Markets (HOOD +10.41%) increased by more than 10% after the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a new proposal on day-trading rules for retail investors.

Allbirds (BIRD +582.33%) soared more than 580% after pivoting from footwear to an AI-focused business model, while ASML (ASML 2.18%) sank despite solid earnings.

What this means for investors

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both set new records today as stocks rebound on hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted, and oil prices remain elevated though they fell slightly. Optimism about peace negotiations, combined with a strong start to the earnings season, buoyed markets.

Tech stocks, including some software leaders, helped lift the Nasdaq as investors regained some appetite for risk. Microsoft (MSFT +4.64%) and Oracle (ORCL +4.18%) extended their gains. ServiceNow (NOW +7.29%) and Salesforce (CRM +3.69%), which have taken a battering this year, were both in the green.

The economic impact of the recent energy price hike remains unclear, but markets are showing resilience. For long-term investors, maintaining a diversified portfolio with a mix of geographic, industry, and asset exposure remains a good way to navigate geopolitical upheaval.