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April 15, 2026 – 00:14

(Bloomberg) — Stocks in Asia are set to open higher after the S&P 500 rallied to near a fresh record, as optimism around further peace talks between the US and Iran pushed down oil prices.

Equity futures indicated gains in Sydney, Tokyo and Hong Kong after the US benchmark index finished 1.2% higher to extend a rebound that’s brought it to the brink of its late-January peak. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 rose 1.8% for a 10th straight day of gains — its longest such streak since 2021. US oil edged higher in early Asian trading after sliding almost 8% on Tuesday.

The US and Iran are looking to arrange a second round of peace talks in the coming days, while a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz worsens a global energy crisis and complicates diplomatic prospects. The objective is to hold more discussions before an April 7 ceasefire expires next week, Bloomberg reported.

“It’s not about whether there is progress in the peace talks, it’s about whether we can reasonably hope that there might be progress in the peace talks,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers LLC. “Vibes are more powerful than reality.”

The Brent crude benchmark fell almost 5% to below $95 a barrel on Tuesday, as the International Energy Agency estimated that the war will wipe out global oil demand growth for the first time since the 2020 pandemic. The dollar marked a seventh straight day of losses, while Treasuries strengthened. Gold and most industrial metals advanced.

Traders are also focused on first-quarter earnings at a time when the war in the Middle East is weighing on the outlook for the economy. JPMorgan Chase & Co. shares slipped despite a record quarterly trading revenue haul. Citigroup Inc. rose after reporting its highest quarterly return in five years on tangible common equity.

BlackRock Inc. took in a net $130 billion of client cash in the first quarter, with investor money continuing to pour in despite volatility in the public and private markets and protracted uncertainty over the war in Iran. Shares rose 3%.

“Profits drive the cycle and the global profit expectations have not been dented,” said Tom Fahey, co-director of macro strategies at Loomis Sayles, during a panel on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, US wholesale prices rose by less than expected in March, despite a surge in energy costs tied to the Iran war, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed. The producer price index rose 0.5%, with an underlying gauge that excludes food and energy up just 0.1%. Economists projected a 1.1% for the PPI from a month earlier.

The data follow figures last week that showed US consumer prices surged in March because of skyrocketing gasoline prices, even as underlying inflation came in below estimates.

“Companies continue to show remarkable resilience in the face of supply chain, tariff, and now energy challenges,” said Scott Helfstein, head of investment strategy at Global X ETFs. “This should be reassuring for investors.”

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its global growth projection for the year because of the the war in the Middle East and included the possibility of a downturn if the conflict drags on and energy infrastructure is severely damaged.

In Asia, Bank of Japan officials are likely to consider raising their inflation forecast sharply at their policy meeting this month, mainly to reflect elevated oil prices, Bloomberg reported.

What Bloomberg’s Strategists Say:

“The S&P 500 is rising because markets are leaning into the belief the Iran War stops short of a full economic hit. The ceasefire appears to be holding, Saudi east-west pipeline capacity has been restored, and Iran is considering a pause in its own shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate further talks. Each headline on renewed negotiations keeps diplomacy alive, allowing traders see a smaller tail risk.“

— Michael Ball, Macro Strategist, Markets Live. For the full analysis, click here.

Stocks

Hang Seng futures rose 0.9% as of 7:08 a.m. Tokyo time S&P/ASX 200 futures rose 0.4% Nikkei 225 futures rose 1.3% S&P 500 futures were little changed Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.3% Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin was little changed at $74,083.18 Ether rose 0.2% to $2,320.3 Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined five basis points to 4.25% Commodities

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $4,847.75 an ounce West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.6% to $91.92

This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

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