Nasdaq and S&P 500 reach record highs on optimism over U.S.-Iran peace talks

Optimistic signs of a de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict pushed the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 to new record highs on Wednesday as Bitcoin moved toward the $75,000 mark.

Yahoo Finance data shows the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.59% to finish at 24,016.02, while the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to close at a peak of 7,022.95. These gains were largely driven by the technology sector, which rose 2.08% during the session. 

In the digital asset space, Bitcoin rose 1.07% to reach $75,229, extending a two-week rally that has seen the cryptocurrency gain nearly 10% in value.

Market sentiment improved following comments from the White House regarding the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump told Fox Business on Wednesday that the war is “very close to being over,” though he noted that a final resolution depends on successful negotiations.

“If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished,” Trump said.

The White House indicated that a second round of negotiations is expected to resume in Islamabad this week. 

Vice President JD Vance, who recently arrived in Pakistan for these talks, noted that while the administration is seeking a “grand bargain,” a deep “trust deficit” remains between the two nations. 

Trump suggested that the scale of the damage inflicted has left Iran with little choice but to negotiate, claiming that the country is “beaten up pretty bad” and that its leaders “want to make a deal very badly.

Analysts expect the rally to continue

Tom Lee, chief investment officer at Fundstrat, told CNBC’s “Closing Bell” on Wednesday that the equity market has remained resilient despite the geopolitical friction, adding that many investors are currently holding cash on the sidelines, waiting for more clarity on the conflict before re-entering the market.

In a recent X post, Lee said that “stocks bottom on bad news,” rather than good news, suggesting the current environment could support a continued move higher. 

While the broader market has performed well, Lee anticipates that the next phase of this rally will be spearheaded by the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks, the software sector, and crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ether.