Dow stiger 448 point på håb om Iran-aftale, AI-rally løfter aktier

Wall Streets hovedindeks åbnede højere onsdag og fortsatte en stærk stigning drevet af optimisme om en mulig amerikansk-iranisk fredsaftale samt vedvarende begejstring for vækst drevet af kunstig intelligens.

Børsindeksene steg efter rapporter, som antydede, at Washington og Teheran var tæt på en aftale om at afslutte konflikten.

Dow Jones Industrial Average steg 448 point, eller 0,91%, mens S&P 500 steg 0,74%.

Nasdaq Composite førte an i bevægelsen og steg 0,85%.

Ifølge Axios, som citerer kilder, var USA og Iran tæt på en aftale, der kan omfatte et moratorium for berigelse af uran.

En talsmand for Irans udenrigsministerium fortalte også CNBC, at Iran evaluerede et amerikansk forslag med det formål at løse konflikten.

Usikkerheden bestod dog.

Præsident Donald Trump indikerede senere, at en aftale ikke var garanteret og kaldte det en 'måske, en stor antagelse', at Iran ville acceptere forslaget. Aktiefutures trak sig en smule tilbage fra tidligere toppe efter hans bemærkninger.

"If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," skrev præsidenten i et opslag på Truth Social.

Oil prices tumble as geopolitical tensions ease

Energy markets reacted sharply to the prospect of de-escalation.

Oil prices fell significantly as traders reduced exposure, anticipating a potential end to the conflict.

West Texas Intermediate futures dropped 10%, trading just above $91 per barrel, while international Brent crude declined about 9% to near $100.

The decline in oil prices followed reports that the two sides were working toward a one-page memorandum that would formally end hostilities and initiate a 30-day negotiation period.

The agreement could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, limiting Iran’s nuclear program, and lifting US sanctions.

Trump also said late Tuesday that he is pausing “Project Freedom,” the US initiative to guide ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

He cited “the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran" as the reason behind the move.

AI momentum continues to lift equities

Beyond geopolitics, the rally in equities has been underpinned by strong corporate earnings and sustained investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence.

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) surged as much as 18% after issuing an upbeat outlook for the second quarter and reporting first-quarter results that beat expectations on both revenue and profit.

The gains spilled over into the broader semiconductor sector, with the VanEck Semiconductor ETF rising 4% and Intel adding about 4%.

Super Micro also jumped 13% following a stronger-than-expected forecast.

Major technology stocks also contributed to gains. Alphabet rose 1.5%, narrowing the gap with Nvidia in market value, while Nvidia itself climbed 2%.

Arm Holdings advanced 11% ahead of its quarterly results.

Economic data also pointed to underlying resilience.

The ADP National Employment Report showed US private-sector employment rose by 109,000 jobs in April, above expectations of 99,000.

While markets continue to rally on optimism around AI and easing geopolitical tensions, investors remain closely focused on developments in the Middle East and the durability of earnings growth as key drivers for the next phase of market direction.