S&P 500 closes at fresh record, recovering all losses since start of US-Iran war

The S&P 500 closed at a fresh record on April 15, 2026, recovering all losses since the U.S.-Iran conflict began as investors returned to risk assets on hopes of de-escalation and strong corporate earnings. The index settled at 7,022.95 (intraday high 7,026.24), up 0.8%, with analysts lifting Q1 earnings expectations for S&P companies. The rebound follows a selloff that took the S&P down as much as 9% after the Feb. 28 outbreak; the Nasdaq and Dow previously hit 10% correction levels. Market support came from resilient U.S. consumer signals and expectations for robust bank and corporate results, while lingering tail risks — potential renewed conflict escalation, inflationary pressures from earlier oil shocks, AI-related disruption concerns, and private credit redemption risks — could test sentiment going forward.