U.S. stocks opened higher on Wednesday, April 22, lifted by news suggesting a potential de-escalation of Middle East tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, injecting optimism into the market.

As of the morning session Eastern Time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.93% to 49,606 points; the S&P 500 climbed 0.82% to 7,122 points; and the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.98% to 24,497 points.

President Trump stated on social media that, at the request of Pakistan, the United States decided to extend the ceasefire to allow Iran to present a unified negotiation proposal. This move was viewed as a positive signal toward a path of conflict de-escalation.

In addition to geopolitical factors, strong corporate earnings also provided support to the market. Boeing (BA) reported a smaller-than-expected loss for the first quarter, driving its share price up more than 3%. Data shows that among the S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings so far, over 80% have surpassed market expectations.

Although the market welcomed the ceasefire extension, analysts noted that uncertainties remain regarding U.S.-Iran negotiations, and geopolitical risks have not yet fully dissipated.