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US STOCKS RALLY, DOW POSTS BEST DAY SINCE APRIL 2025 AFTER IRAN CEASEFIRE

U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Wednesday after a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement relieved investors even as Israel's continued pounding of Lebanon raised questions about whether the agreement was being violated.

The S&P 500 .SPX and Nasdaq .IXIC both marked a sixth straight day of gains, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its biggest daily percentage gain since April of 2025. Also, the PHLX Semiconductor Index .SOX and the Dow Jones Transportation Average .DJT both registered record closing highs.

The Cboe Volatility Index .VIX fell to its lowest level since the beginning of the war.

Industrials .SPLRCI led S&P 500 sector gainers, while energy .SPNY was the only loser on the day, with oil prices falling sharply following news of the ceasefire.

The war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has rattled global markets and caused energy prices to spike with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire late on Tuesday, two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to open the blockaded strait or face destruction.

Here is the closing snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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