S&P 500 Breaks 7,000 Barrier for First Time; Nasdaq Longest Win Streak Since 2009

The S&P 500 closed at a record 7,022.95 on April 15 — the first-ever close above 7,000 — posting a 3.3% weekly gain. The Nasdaq recorded its first close above 24,000 (24,016.02) and entered a 12-session winning streak, its longest since 2009. The Dow gained approximately 1% for the week. Japan's Nikkei 225 also hit a record high, rising 2.43% in sympathy with Wall Street gains. The rally defied the grim April 14 IMF WEO (global growth cut to 3.1%), as markets priced in the Iran ceasefire holding and the Strait of Hormuz Green Channel remaining operational. The divergence between record equity highs and the IMF's downgrade reflects markets weighting geopolitical de-escalation over fundamental macro weakness.