Gotrade News - The S&P 500 closed at 6,986.99 on Tuesday (15/04), landing just 0.2% below its all-time high of 7,002.28 set on January 28. The index gained 0.28% as strong bank earnings and continued Iran-US peace optimism pushed equities closer to a historic milestone.
The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.37% to 23,726.69, extending what has become a remarkable 10-session winning streak, the longest since 2021. The Dow Jones added 0.22% to reach 48,642.84, with financial stocks leading the advance at a sector gain of 0.8%.
Key Takeaways:
- S&P 500 closed at 6,987, just 15 points below its all-time record of 7,002 set in January
- Nasdaq extended its winning streak to 10 consecutive sessions, the longest run since 2021
- Bank of America beat earnings estimates while BlackRock upgraded US stocks to overweight
The session's gains were driven by two catalysts working in tandem. Bank of America posted EPS of $1.11 versus the $1.00 consensus, confirming that the earnings season is starting strong according to Benzinga.
President Trump continued to signal progress in Iran-US negotiations, telling reporters that talks could resume within two days. The de-escalation narrative has powered the broader market recovery since early April.
BlackRock upgraded its outlook on US equities, stating that macroeconomic damage from the conflict remains "contained." The asset manager projected 43% earnings growth for the technology sector in 2026, reinforcing the bullish case for the market.
Tesla gained 3.53% and Meta Platforms rose 1.56%, contributing to the tech-heavy rally. NVIDIA added 1.27% as semiconductor stocks continued to benefit from artificial intelligence spending momentum.
The Empire State Manufacturing Index surged to 11.0 in April, signaling moderate expansion in new orders and shipments. This data point suggests the real economy is holding up better than feared despite elevated oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty.
The VIX fear index dropped 4.79% to 17.48, reflecting declining volatility expectations among options traders. A sub-20 VIX reading typically signals that markets are shifting from fear to cautious optimism about the near-term outlook.
Treasury yields held steady with the 10-year at 4.25% and the 2-year at 3.76%. Markets are pricing in a 99.5% probability that the Federal Reserve maintains current rates at its April meeting, according to futures data.
Gold slipped 0.3% to $4,835.60 per ounce as risk appetite improved, while oil edged up 0.4% to $91.64. The combination of rising stocks and stable commodities suggests markets are pricing in a soft landing rather than recession.
The S&P 500 ETF is now up substantially from its conflict-era lows, but the record close remains just out of reach. A strong earnings week or a concrete diplomatic breakthrough could provide the final push above 7,002.
On Gotrade, you can invest in the S&P 500 through SPY starting from just $1 with fractional shares. Being this close to a record high means the market is telling you something about where the smart money sees the economy heading.
Whether the index breaks through or pulls back will likely depend on this week's remaining earnings reports and any developments from Iran-US negotiations. The momentum is clearly with the bulls, but the last 15 points to a new high are never guaranteed.
Sources:
- Benzinga, [Dow Gains 100 Points Bank of America Earnings Top Views](https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/26/04/51830734/dow-gains-100-points-bank-of-america-earnings-top-views), 2026.
- Benzinga, [Stock Market Today S&P 500 Nasdaq Futures Gain as Trump Fuels De-Escalation Hopes](https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/26/04/51824014/stock-market-today-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-gain-as-trump-fuels-de-escalation-hopes-asml-holding-gitlab-broadcom-in-focus), 2026.
- Investing.com, [Wall Street Opens Higher With Earnings in Focus](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/wall-street-opens-higher-with-earnings-in-focus-4615673), 2026.
