Markets Surge on Trump's Middle East Hints, SpaceX IPO

0:00It's April 1st, I'm Cory with the story, and this is US News Today, National News powered by AI. Wall Street closed higher Wednesday, boosted by President Trump's hints that the Middle East conflict might wrap up soon. Tech giants like Alphabet, MetaPlatforms, and Amazon led the charge, pushing the S&P 500 of nearly 3-quarters of a percent to around 6. The NASDAG jumped over 1% to 21,842, while the Dow rose half a percent to 46,5, 168. Investors have rallied markets for two straight days on bets that the US and Israel tensions with Iran could ease after energy prices spiked last. Month from oil flow issues in the straight of Hormuz. Oil prices dropped sharp today, though, dragging energy stocks down almost 5% at one point, and airlines shares climbed in response. Traders are parsing Trump's words carefully, hoping for positive vibes amid inflation

1:01worries. The fear gauge, or VIX, hit its lowest end over a week, and the S&P trades at under 20 times expected earnings, the cheapest multiple in 10 months. SpaceX quietly filed for an IPO, lifting space stocks, while Eli Lilly gained on FDA approval for its new weight loss drug, FoundaO. Intel serves after agreeing to buy back a stake in its Ireland factory for $14.2 billion, but Nike tanked to a decade low on week. Sales forecasts. Positive economic signals rolled in, too, with steady private job growth in March per ADP. Strong February retail sales and better manufacturing. Activity Friday's big non-farm payrolls report looms, though markets shut for good Friday, and bets now lean toward fed rate hikes by year end over cuts.