S&P 500 Recovers from War-Driven Selloff, Nasdaq Rises Nearly 2%

Gate News message, April 15 — The S&P 500 closed up 1.2% on April 15, recovering from a war-driven selloff and reaching just 0.2% below its record high set on January 27. The tech-heavy Nasdaq rose nearly 2% and is about 1% below its all-time high reached last year. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark for oil, are trading below $100 a barrel after earlier highs during the conflict.

Investors are betting that the war will end soon and that disruptions to global energy supply—approximately 20% of the world's oil and petroleum products have been cut off—will prove less severe than previous oil shocks. The market sentiment shifted notably following the ceasefire agreement announced on April 7. By April 14, stocks had returned to pre-war levels, and continued climbing into April 15.

The rally reflects investor optimism despite an energy shock, rising inflation, and warnings of slower economic growth. Companies have begun reporting quarterly earnings, with Wall Street expecting strong results driven in part by artificial intelligence gains. BlackRock, which had advised a cautious approach at the war's outset, signaled "buying opportunities" this week. JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note that "momentum has not been derailed by the geopolitical shock."

Historically, the market experienced significant volatility in recent months. By end of March, the S&P 500 had fallen 7% from its all-time high, while the Nasdaq entered "correction" territory—a decline of at least 10% from its previous peak. The recovery follows a pattern seen a year earlier, when a strong April selloff was reversed, allowing stocks to rally.