On the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, activity was bustling during the morning of April 8, 2026, in New York City.
Stock futures dropped Thursday night, as traders remained wary of the fragile two-week truce between the United States and Iran.
Both S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures fell around 0.2%. Meanwhile, futures associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 53 points, or 0.1%.
This followed a day of gains on Thursday, where stocks continued to rise—boosted by President Donald Trump’s agreement to cease attacks on Iran for a fortnight. The S&P 500 saw an increase of 0.62%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.83%. The Dow added 275.88 points, climbing 0.58% within the trading session, edging upward as 2026 approached.
Oil prices retreated from earlier highs, and the S&P 500 benefited after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed readiness to negotiate with Lebanon soon. In response, Tehran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf, indicated that Israel’s actions against Lebanon breached the ceasefire agreement with the U.S. and Iran.
On Tuesday night, Trump extended the timeframe for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by two weeks. This ongoing Middle East conflict has effectively closed down a vital maritime route for over five weeks now.
Stocks surged on Wednesday following the ceasefire news, with all three major indexes gaining over 2%. The Dow recorded its most significant increase since April 2025.
According to Stephen Parker, co-head of global investment strategy at JPMorgan Private Bank, these relief rallies may have lasting positive effects.
He noted, “The extent of the downturn in stock markets, especially in the U.S., seems minimal in comparison to the volatility seen in energy markets, which likely suggests a downward trend for energy prices.” He spoke on CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime.”
Parker added, “We predict energy prices will gradually decline over the next three to six months. While growth has slightly slowed and inflation has nudged up, we believe the overall landscape for equities remains favorable, particularly with earnings season approaching.”
The major indexes have been on a steady upward trend week by week. By Thursday’s close, the S&P 500 had risen about 3.7%, achieving its best performance since November. The Dow climbed 3.6% this week, while the Nasdaq is expected to rise by 4.3%.
On the economic side, attention will turn to the consumer price index for March. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones anticipate a 0.9% rise from the prior month and a 3.3% increase over the last year. Reports on durable goods orders and factory outputs are also in the pipeline.
