Financials Stay in Focus Midweek 15/04/2026

HOT stories for today

Market wrap:

• Stocks rose Tuesday as investors grew more optimistic that the U.S. and Iran could still reach a deal, extending a rally that has pushed the S&P 500 close to a record. The S&P 500 gained 1.18%, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.96% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 317.74 points, or 0.66%. The S&P 500 is now approaching its Jan. 28 record close of 7,002.28. Tuesday marked the benchmark’s ninth advance in 10 sessions, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq posted a 10th straight gain. The S&P 500 had already erased its losses tied to the Iran conflict with Monday’s advance. Sentiment was supported by signs that diplomacy may still be in play. President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. had been contacted by Iran, adding that “they’d like to make a deal very badly.” Technology shares helped lead the move higher. Broadcom rose after Meta Platforms said it would deploy 1 gigawatt of custom artificial-intelligence chips built with Broadcom technology. The companies also extended their partnership to design Meta’s in-house AI accelerators through 2029. Broadcom shares gained about 3%, while Meta rose modestly.
•  Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies also moved higher, adding to the broader risk-on tone. Earnings season began in earnest with results from major banks, which broadly topped revenue expectations. Still, investors looked past the headline beats to signs of pressure in loan quality and consumer confidence. Profits benefited from volatile wartime trading, but executives pointed to a more uncertain backdrop. JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said consumers and businesses remain healthy, though risks tied to war, energy prices and fiscal deficits have made the outlook harder to predict. Attention now turns to another busy day of corporate results, with Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, PNC Financial and ASML due before Wednesday’s opening bell. Investors will also be watching March import and export price data.

Oil Slips as Iran Diplomacy Gains Momentum

• U.S. crude extended its decline after settling lower Tuesday, as optimism grew that the Middle East conflict could move closer to a diplomatic resolution. West Texas Intermediate for May delivery fell 0.34% to $90.97 a barrel shortly after midnight in New York, while Brent crude for June rose 0.3% to $95.07 after reversing earlier losses. A second round of U.S.-Iran talks is under consideration, though no formal schedule has been set. President Donald Trump later said negotiations could take place “over the next two days” in Islamabad, according to the New York Post. The renewed diplomatic push followed earlier signs that talks could resume before a fragile two-week ceasefire expires. Still, the Strait of Hormuz remains a major constraint.
• The International Energy Agency said restoring flows through the waterway is the most important factor in easing pressure on energy supplies and the global economy. Goldman Sachs said flows were running at just 10% of normal levels, while the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has caused some vessels to turn back. Goldman also said production disruptions in the region appear less severe than first feared, with Persian Gulf shut-ins estimated at about 8 million barrels a day in March.

Stocks on the move:

• SunPower (SPWR): fell about 6% in after-hours trading after its first-quarter update highlighted the combined impact of seasonal weakness and the expiration of key federal tax credits, raising concerns that demand for residential solar could tighten without government support.
• AST SpaceMobile (ASTS): dropped 10.51% as Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar fueled concerns about rising competition in the direct-to-device cellular market, threatening AST’s first-mover advantage. The selloff also pushed the stock to the top of Stocktwits’ trending names.
• Snap (SNAP): gained 8.74% after announcing a deal with Qualcomm tied to augmented-reality glasses.
• Micron Technology (MU): rose 9.17% as improving memory pricing trends boosted sentiment.
• Adobe (ADBE): slipped 1.83% as concerns resurfaced over integration risks tied to Figma.

Watchlist: ORCL, MS, PNC, PLTR, META, ASML, BAC, SNDK

Key Economic Events Today:

EST time

08:30 am: USD Empire State Manufacturing Index
08:30 am: USD Import Prices
08:30 am: USD FOMC Member Barr Speaks
10:00 am: USD NAHB Housing Market Index
10:30 am: USD Crude Oil Inventories
01:45 pm: USD FOMC Member Bowman Speaks


Earnings

BMC (Before Market Open): ASML Holding (ASML), Bank of America (BAC), Morgan Stanley (MS), Progressive Corp. (PGR), PNC Financial Services Group (PNC)

AMC (After Market Close): J.B. Hunt Transport (JBHT), Home BancShares (HOMB)

 

The TEFS Analyst team wishes you a successful day!