-- The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 hit record highs on Wednesday as upbeat corporate results overshadowed a rise in oil prices following Iran's seizure of two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Nasdaq rose 1.6% to 24,657.6, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.1% to 7,137.9, both finishing at all-time highs after a two-day losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7% to 49,490.
Most sectors were in the green, led by technology's 2.3% advance, while real estate saw the steepest decline.
Boeing's (BA) first-quarter loss unexpectedly narrowed as commercial aircraft deliveries rose, while the plane maker reported a smaller cash burn year over year. The stock jumped 5.5%, the best performer on the Dow.
Boston Scientific (BSX) shares surged 9%, the third-biggest gain on the S&P 500. The medical device supplier's first-quarter results exceeded Wall Street's estimates, but it lowered its full-year guidance.
Philip Morris International (PM) reported first-quarter results above market estimates, while lowering its full-year earnings outlook. The cigarette and vape maker's shares jumped 7%.
A number of tech stocks climbed, with Micron (MU) up 8.5%, among the biggest gains on the S&P 500. Apple (AAPL) rose 2.6%, the second-best performer on the Dow. Microsoft (MSFT) and Salesforce (CRM) also rose.
West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3.3% to $92.58 per barrel in Wednesday late-afternoon trade, while Brent jumped 3% to $101.44.
Iran said it seized two container ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint. US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Tehran late Tuesday, though he said the naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
The status of a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran remained unclear.
Trump does not consider Iran's claim that it seized two ships as a violation of the ceasefire, CNN reported, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Tehran welcomes dialogue, but "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X on Wednesday.
"Oil prices continue to whipsaw as traders respond to a confusing and often contradictory flow of headlines, underscoring the deep mistrust between Tehran and Washington," Saxo Bank Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen said in a report on Wednesday.
US Treasury yields were mixed, with the 10-year rate little changed at 4.31% and the two-year rate up 2.7 basis points at 3.81%.
Gold was up 0.9% at $4,759.60 per troy ounce, while silver gained 1.7% to $77.75 per ounce.