TLDR
- Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire, lifting stock futures across all three major indexes
- Dow futures rose 252 points (0.5%), S&P 500 up 0.6%, Nasdaq 100 up 0.8% in pre-market
- Bitcoin jumped past $78,000, reaching an 11-week high
- Boeing shares rose nearly 4% pre-market after Q1 results beat expectations
- Oil prices stayed elevated, with Brent crude briefly topping $100 a barrel
Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire late Tuesday, sending stock futures higher on Wednesday morning. The extension came after two straight days of losses for Wall Street.
Dow futures climbed 252 points, or 0.5%. S&P 500 futures gained 0.6%, and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.8%.
The previous session saw all three major indexes fall for a second day in a row. That came after reports that Vice President JD Vance had paused plans to travel to Pakistan for peace talks.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the ceasefire would hold until Iran and Pakistan present “a unified proposal.” He did not give a specific end date for the extension.
Despite the calmer mood in equity markets, oil prices remained high. Brent crude briefly broke above $100 a barrel on Wednesday. West Texas International futures were around $89 a barrel.
IRAN THREATENS MILITARY RESPONSE TO U.S. BLOCKADE
Iran says the U.S. naval blockade is equivalent to an act of war and must be met with force.
Senior officials dismissed Trump’s ceasefire extension and signaled escalation, warning any action against Iranian vessels would…
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) April 22, 2026
Iranian gunboats fired on two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Two Iranian oil supertankers also tested the US naval blockade, keeping tensions in the region alive.
Trump described the Iranian government as “seriously fractured,” citing difficulties in negotiations. Iranian officials called the talks a “waste of time,” saying the US has not honored previous commitments.
Deutsche Bank analyst Jim Reid noted the market recovery was narrow. He said energy-exposed regions were underperforming even after the ceasefire extension.
Bitcoin Jumps to 11-Week High
Bitcoin climbed past $78,000 on Wednesday, hitting its highest level in 11 weeks. The move came alongside the broader market rebound driven by the ceasefire news.
Gold also rose, climbing 1.4% to $4,784 an ounce. The dollar slipped 0.1% against a basket of currencies, and the 10-year Treasury yield fell one basis point to 4.29%.
Asian markets posted modest gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% and South Korea’s Kospi Composite added 0.5%.
Boeing Leads Early Earnings Movers
Boeing reported first-quarter results that beat expectations. Higher aircraft deliveries helped drive the stronger-than-expected numbers, boosting confidence in the company’s ongoing turnaround.
Shares in Boeing rose nearly 4% before the bell. Investors are now watching Tesla, which is set to release its own quarterly results later on Wednesday.
Fed Governor Kevin Warsh testified before lawmakers on Wednesday in his confirmation hearing for Fed Chair. His comments were seen as reassuring by markets, with investors betting there will be no rate cuts in the near term following his stress on central bank independence.
Treasury yields edged lower after both the ceasefire extension and the Warsh hearing. Markets remain focused on the Iran situation as the temporary truce continues without a firm resolution date.
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