On April 18, 2026, U.S. stock indexes saw significant gains, with the S&P 500 Index rising 0.84%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 0.76%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index climbing 1.28%, reaching a new record high. This rise comes amidst a backdrop of positive corporate earnings reports from major companies including GE Vernova, Boeing, and Masco. Additionally, WTI crude oil prices increased over 2% as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz persist, following Iran’s seizure of two ships.
In the realm of U.S. economic indicators, mortgage applications increased by 7.9% for the week ending April 17, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling to 6.35%. The earnings season is also in full swing, with 82% of the 71 S&P 500 companies that reported so far beating estimates; year-over-year Q1 earnings for the index are projected to grow 12%, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
Internationally, the Eurozone’s April consumer confidence index dropped to -20.6, marking a 3.25-year low, while Germany revised its 2026 GDP growth forecast down to 0.5% due to the ongoing impacts of the U.S.-Iran conflict. In the bond market, U.S. 10-year T-note yields decreased to 4.283% amid heightened safe-haven demand due to geopolitical tensions.
