Morning session: U.S. stocks continue to rise, Dow Jones up 600 points

On March 31st Beijing time, U.S. stocks continued to rise on Tuesday morning, with the Dow up 600 points. Investors are assessing the possibility that military actions against Iran could end within four to six weeks, following reports that Trump is seeking to conclude the war with Iran.

The Dow rose 593.68 points, or 1.31%, to 45,809.82; the Nasdaq increased 410.45 points, or 1.97%, to 21,205.09; the S&P 500 gained 99.23 points, or 1.56%, to 6,442.95.

According to reports, U.S. President Trump is considering ending military operations within four to six weeks. The report states that Trump’s strategic focus is on weakening Iran’s navy and missile capabilities.

After Trump made these remarks, U.S. Treasury yields edged lower across the board. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.32%, and the 2-year Treasury yield dropped to 3.82%.

The report indicates that President Trump has told aides he is willing to end military hostilities in the Middle East even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.

Technology stocks, which have been under pressure since the outbreak of conflict, generally rose. The SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF increased by 0.6%. Nvidia rose 1%, and Microsoft gained nearly 2%.

However, oil prices remain high, after another media report stated that Iran attacked a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters. The Dubai government media office posted on X that no injuries were reported, and “all 24 crew members have been confirmed safe.”

Brent crude futures rose 4%, trading above $117 per barrel; West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures increased nearly 1%, above $103 per barrel.

Wall Street’s previous trading day was mixed. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined, while the Dow modestly closed higher.

Monday’s decline in the S&P 500 left it just over 9% above its recent high, with the decline led by the technology sector (down over 1%). However, B. Riley Wealth Management Chief Market Strategist Art Hogan said the recent pullback may reflect a normal market correction rather than an abnormal situation.

He stated, “There are several opinions right now, but I think long-term investors should remember that a 10% correction is normal. It happens from time to time. On average, we experience a 10% correction about once every two years, and investors need to understand that market volatility is the price paid for higher long-term returns.”

He added, “Whenever there’s a bit of good news, we also see some days of gains.”

Tuesday is the last trading day of the month. The S&P 500 has fallen 7.8% in March so far. If this decline holds until the close, it will be the worst monthly performance for the index since September 2022, when it plummeted 9.3%.