US Stock Market Today: Tech lifts stocks, oil below $100

Stocks rise as investors juggle war risk and diplomacy

US stocks closed higher as investors tried to balance the risks from the Middle East war with signs that diplomacy could restart between the United States and Iran. The S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow all advanced, with technology shares leading the move. Sentiment improved as crude oil prices cooled, easing some near-term inflation concerns. Trading remained headline-driven because developments around Iran and shipping routes have been moving oil sharply. Markets were also tracking the early stage of earnings season, with results and guidance creating uneven moves across sectors.

Trump comments help shift the tone late in the session

After a muted start, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 picked up pace later in the day following comments from US President Donald Trump. He said Iran wants to make a deal, while adding he would not agree to any outcome that allows Tehran to have a nuclear weapon. The remarks fed hopes that talks could resume even after weekend discussions were reported to have failed. Investors appeared to price in the possibility of renewed negotiations alongside continued military and political pressure. The improvement in risk appetite was most visible in technology, where buyers returned as oil retreated.

Oil volatility remains central to market pricing

Crude oil was a key driver of intraday swings. Reuters reported that oil climbed about 4% after the US military began a blockade of ships leaving Iran’s ports, and Tehran warned of possible retaliation involving Gulf neighbors. Even with those risks, prices later retreated from earlier highs and both benchmarks moved below $100 per barrel in that update. Brent futures were reported at $18.92 a barrel, up 3.91%, while US WTI crude was at $18.81, up about 2.3%. The combination of higher day-on-day oil moves and a below-$100 level highlighted how quickly war headlines were changing the market’s inflation and growth assumptions.

Currency moves reflect shifting risk appetite

The dollar slipped from earlier highs and was set for a sixth straight daily loss in the Reuters update cited in the feed. The pullback in the dollar came as oil retreated from its highs even while the blockade remained in effect. Traders continued to track the risk of disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. With oil and the dollar moving in opposite directions during parts of the session, equities took cues from both inflation expectations and broader risk sentiment.

Tech leadership and uneven sector reaction

Technology shares led gains as crude eased and investors leaned toward growth and AI-linked names. The broader news flow also pointed to uneven reactions across energy, travel and tech as investors processed war-related costs and demand impacts. In one of the early earnings references, Goldman Sachs was described as underwhelming despite a profit beat, reinforcing that earnings season could reward companies selectively rather than lifting all boats.

A rebound day shows how quickly sentiment can turn

In a later session referenced in the provided feed, Wall Street rebounded as oil prices pulled back from recent gains and investors watched a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and new tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 250.95 points, or 0.51%, to 49,192.85. The S&P 500 gained 47.98 points, or 0.67%, to 7,248.73, and the Nasdaq Composite added 206.72 points, or 0.83%, to 25,274.52, touching a new intraday record. Nine of the 11 main S&P 500 sectors traded higher, with consumer discretionary up 1.21% in that update.

Earnings and company-specific headlines add to the mix

Corporate news also influenced the tape. Intel jumped more than 9% in early trading after Bloomberg reported Apple held talks with Intel and Samsung about making main processors for its devices, suggesting Apple may broaden its chip supply base beyond Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Micron rose after Fitch upgraded its credit rating, contributing to strength across semiconductors. Elsewhere in the feed, Oracle was referenced for AI infrastructure-related expansion, and Amazon for a $11.57 billion Globalstar acquisition mentioned alongside broader tech momentum. These company developments supported the view that, even during geopolitical stress, tech leadership can reassert itself when oil cools.

Economic data stays mixed

Macro signals in the feed were not uniformly strong. US job openings slipped to 6.866 million in March but were slightly above estimates in that update. The ISM services index fell to 53.6 in April, still indicating expansion but showing slower momentum. With inflation sensitivity elevated due to energy swings, investors appeared to weigh growth indicators alongside the immediate oil shock.

Key numbers snapshot

Market impact and why investors focused on oil below $100

The move in crude below $100 mattered because it reduced near-term inflation fears that typically pressure equities, especially rate-sensitive growth stocks. In the sessions described, easing oil supported tech leadership while energy-linked sentiment remained more volatile. But the same feed also underscored that oil could spike sharply on news such as a blockade or threats to shipping routes, quickly changing the market’s inflation and risk pricing. The result was an environment where investors tracked geopolitics and earnings at the same time, with tech often acting as the day-to-day swing factor.

Conclusion

US stocks closed higher as technology shares led gains and crude eased below $100 in an Iran war-driven news cycle. With earnings season underway and oil still sensitive to developments around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, investors continued to watch both corporate guidance and diplomatic signals for the next direction in volatility.