-- US equity indexes jumped on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite hitting an all-time high, following an extension of the Iran ceasefire agreement and strong quarterly earnings.
The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.6% to 24,657.57, with the S&P 500 up 1.1% at 7,137.90 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.7% higher at 49,490.03. All sectors except real estate, utilities, industrials, and financials rose. Technology, energy, and communication services led the gainers.
The ceasefire extension will last for only three to five days, Fox News reported Wednesday, citing a White House official. The US blockade of the Middle East nation's ports remains in force. Iran has made lifting the blockade a key demand for resuming negotiations to end the war and for allowing marine traffic to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for 20% of global crude oil flows.
Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reported, citing the IRGC. The IRGC targeted a third vessel that is "now disabled off Iran's coast," CNN cited Iranian media.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures Jumped 3.1% to $92.45, and Brent crude futures advanced 2.9% to $101.34.
Meanwhile, as the Q1 earnings season unfolds, about 85% of S&P 500 companies that have reported this quarter beat expectations, The Wall Street Journal cited data compiled by FactSet.
On Wednesday, GE Vernova (GEV) posted higher Q1 earnings and revenue, and raised its annual revenue forecast range. Shares rose 14%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500.
Boeing's (BA) Q1 loss unexpectedly narrowed as commercial aircraft deliveries rose, while the plane maker reported a smaller cash burn year over year. Shares advanced 5.5%, leading the Dow.
Booking Holdings (BKNG) is under investigation for allegedly using deceptive marketing tactics to promote its premium accommodation programs, the Italian Competition Authority said Wednesday. Shares slumped 6%, the steepest decline on the Nasdaq.
After the bell on Wednesday, Tesla (TSLA) reported Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.41 per diluted share, up from $0.27 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $0.36. Revenue for the quarter was $22.39 billion, up from $19.34 billion a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $22.1 billion. Shares of the electric vehicle manufacturer were up 3.7% in after-hours activity.
In fixed income, most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 1.5 basis points to 4.31% and the two-year higher by 2.5 basis points to 3.8%.
On Tuesday, Kevin Warsh, in a confirmation hearing at the Senate for the chair of the Federal Reserve, defended the central bank's independence while signaling a different policy approach to interest rates, guidance, and the balance sheet, according to a Wednesday note from SocGen.
In precious metals, gold futures rose 0.8% to $4,758.2, and silver futures advanced 1.6% to $77.71.