US stock indexes rise on optimism over US‑Iran peace talks

U.S. equity markets closed higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing at 50,286 points, up about 0.6%, while the S&P 500 rose to roughly 7,446 points (+0.2%) and the Nasdaq 100 to about 29,357 points (+0.2%).

The gains were linked to renewed investor hopes that the conflict between the United States and Iran may soon end, after Iranian media reported that the regime was showing signs of de‑escalation. Reuters‑cited analyst Marc Dizard said the “fragile cease‑fire is still holding,” but emphasized that the outlook remains uncertain.

The market reaction also reflected broader geopolitical concerns: the ongoing war in the Middle East has disrupted oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait, prompting investors to seek safe‑haven assets such as the U.S. dollar, which helped underpin the rally in risk‑sensitive equities.