Stock Market Reaches New Highs as Investors Eye Iran Talks and Tesla Earnings

Despite geopolitical uncertainty, US stocks post strong gains, led by tech sector rally

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:53am

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In the week ahead, investors will be closely watching developments in the Iran conflict, as well as key earnings reports from companies like Tesla and Intel. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both reached new all-time highs last week, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, highlighting the market's resilience.

Why it matters

The stock market's ability to reach new highs despite the uncertainty around the Iran conflict underscores investors' confidence in the underlying strength of the US economy. However, analysts warn that continued progress in the Iran talks will be needed to sustain the market's momentum.

The details

The S&P 500 closed the week up 4.5%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 6.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the only major index not to hit a new high, still managed a 3.2% weekly gain. Upcoming economic data, including retail sales and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey, will provide insights into the state of the US consumer. Earnings from Tesla and Intel will also be closely watched, as investors assess the tech sector's performance.

  • On Friday, Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz was 'completely open' for commercial traffic.
  • President Trump said Iran had agreed to indefinitely suspend its nuclear enrichment program and that the two sides would meet this weekend for second-round negotiations.

The players

Elon Musk

CEO of Tesla, who said the company is in the final design stages on its AI5 chip, designed for future EVs, massive training clusters, and Optimus robots.

Abbas Aragchi

Iran's foreign minister, who said the Strait of Hormuz was 'completely open' for commercial traffic.

Donald Trump

The US President, who said Iran had agreed to indefinitely suspend its nuclear enrichment program and that the two sides would meet this weekend for second-round negotiations.

Adam Turnquist

LPL Financial's chief technical strategist, who noted that 'offense is taking the field' and 'risk appetite has returned' in the stock market.

Thierry Wizman

A strategist at Macquarie, who said the market will need to see 'real progress in Iran' to sustain its rally.

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What they’re saying

“Offense is taking the field. Risk appetite has returned, and early cyclical rotation pressures are building beneath the surface of the broader market.”

— Adam Turnquist, Chief Technical Strategist

“Very soon ... continued support for the rally may have to come from signs of actual concessions, either from the US's side or from Iran.”

— Thierry Wizman, Strategist

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.