Washington – The New York Stock Exchange was trading in a mixed fashion on Wednesday, taking a breather after a strong start to the week driven by hopes of peace in the Middle East.
By 14:00 GMT, the Dow Jones was down 0.15%, the Nasdaq was up 0.52%, and the broad S&P 500 index was gaining 0.20%, trading near its historical highs.
“The market remains optimistic about the imminent conclusion of a lasting agreement between the United States and Iran,” explained Patrick O’Hare of Briefing.com.
“But one eventually gets a bit tired after reaching such high levels in recent days,” commented Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management to AFP.
Following the failure of discussions in Pakistan last weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that new talks could take place “within the next two days.”
He also stated during an interview on Fox News that the war with Iran was “almost over,” asserting that Iranian authorities “really want to reach an agreement.”
However, Tehran threatened on Wednesday to block maritime traffic in the Red Sea if the United States continues to impose a blockade on Iranian ports, warning that the ceasefire in effect since April 8 is in jeopardy.
“So the market remains somewhat cautious,” noted Art Hogan. “And a question remains: how will they go about reopening the Strait of Hormuz?”
This strategic maritime passage, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas normally passes, has been practically paralyzed by Iran since the start of the war, leading to a surge in oil prices.
“But overall, many objective signs indicate that the market has been relieved by the recent turn of events,” said Patrick O’Hare.
In parallel, the American market is welcoming a new wave of company results on Wednesday.
Bank of America (+1.93% at 54.38 dollars) announced on Wednesday a sharp increase in its net profit for the first quarter of 2026, supported by rising revenues from loans and market activities, in an American economy considered “resilient.”
American investment bank Morgan Stanley (+4.57% at 191.71 dollars) also benefited from quarterly performances above expectations, including a significant increase in revenue.
“Next week, when we start receiving results from some energy-dependent sectors, we may potentially see a slowdown, either in the actual figures or in the forecasts,” said Art Hogan.
On the bond market, the 10-year yield on U.S. government bonds slightly rose, trading around 4.27% compared to 4.26% the previous day at closing.
Elsewhere on the market, Snap (+7.14% at 5.99 dollars), the parent company of Snapchat, was sought after reports that the company could cut up to 16% of its global workforce, citing efficiency gains related to artificial intelligence (AI).
The shoe brand Allbirds was soaring (+380.92% at 11.97 dollars) after announcing on Wednesday that it was redirecting its activities towards AI-related infrastructure.
