Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 15, 2026
4 min readLast updated: April 15, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed at record highs on April 15, 2026, driven by optimism over de‑escalation in the U.S.‑Iran conflict, while AI-driven corporate developments—most notably Allbirds’ pivot to AI computing infrastructure—fueled market enthusiasm amid heightened political uncertainty ove
By Stephen Culp
NEW YORK, April 15 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both logged record closing highs on Wednesday as investors assessed developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict and turned their focus to corporate earnings.
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Here are a few articles I recommend to help you make sense of what happened in markets today.
* S&P 500, Nasdaq reached their first record closing highs since the U.S.-Iran conflict began
Hopes of de-escalation and robust earnings expectations pushed the indexes to all-time closing highs, reassuring investors that a bull market remains intact.
Reaching those records during an active geopolitical crisis signified a shift in market positioning as traders appeared more willing to price in less severe escalation risks in the near term.
* Shares of Allbirds soared 582.3% after announcing a move from footwear to AI computing infrastructure
In an unusual pivot, the San Francisco-based company said it would execute a $50 million convertible financing agreement with an institutional investor, the proceeds of which will be used to acquire graphics processing units (GPUs).
* Trump threatens to fire Powell if he doesn't quit Fed board
Trump has threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell from his separate seat on the central bank's Board of Governors if he does not relinquish the post when his term as Fed chief ends on May 15.
The administration's threats against Powell, including an ongoing criminal investigation, could delay Senate confirmation of Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick to succeed Powell.
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Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.
Optimism over Middle East de-escalation and robust earnings, especially from tech stocks, pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to all-time closing highs.
Strong first-quarter earnings from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, boosted by trading revenue, contributed to positive market sentiment.
Allbirds announced a pivot from footwear to AI computing infrastructure, resulting in a 582.3% surge in their share price.
Key factors include Middle East developments, energy market moves, data releases like US jobless claims and industrial output, and comments from Fed officials.
Comments from Fed officials indicated no immediate rate changes, but both cuts and hikes remain possible, impacting investor expectations.
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