Dow Jones hits record as investors eye US‑Iran peace‑talk optimism

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 50,580 points, setting a new record high, while the S&P 500 rose 0.36% to 7,473 and the Nasdaq added 0.20% to 26,344. The rally was driven by market optimism over reported progress in diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, which lowered perceived geopolitical risk.

Investors also reacted to a more dovish tone from Federal Reserve officials, with expectations of a possible rate hike later in the year. The 10‑year Treasury yield slipped about 2.6 basis points to 4.558%, supporting equity valuations. The semiconductor sector remained a key driver, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 1.95% on strong earnings from Qualcomm, while Nvidia fell modestly. PC makers such as Lenovo, Dell and HP posted strong results, reinforcing confidence in a broader tech‑hardware recovery.

Despite the positive tone, both U.S. and Iranian officials emphasized that significant differences remain, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program, meaning the peace outlook is still tentative.