Falling Oil Prices Fuel Stock Rally as S&P 500 Nears Record High

The S&P 500 is within less than 1% of its all-time high of 7,002.28 after gaining 1.18% on April 15, as falling oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions lifted investor sentiment. The Nasdaq Composite surged 1.96%, outpacing the broader market, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 317.74 points, or 0.66%. This rally was driven by hopes of renewed US-Iran peace talks, which reduced the risk of Middle East supply disruptions. Brent crude fell 3.8% to $95.54 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate dropped 6.1% to $92.85. Lower energy costs eased inflation concerns, boosted expectations for corporate profit margins, and increased investor appetite for growth-oriented equities. The improved outlook for both consumer spending and business profitability supported broad gains across sectors. Overnight, stock futures traded flat—S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures edged higher, while Dow futures slipped 6 points—suggesting investors were pausing to assess the next catalyst after Tuesday’s advance.