Summary · why it matters
Stocks ended their best quarter since 2020 on a high note, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.5%, 0.8%, and 0.3%, respectively, on Tuesday. The S&P and Nasdaq climbed 15% and 21% over the quarter, their best showing since the second quarter of 2020, while the Dow's 13% gain fell short of its 15% result in the fourth quarter of 2022. Oil prices slipped as investors monitored potential peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Qatar, with West Texas Intermediate futures sliding 1% to around $70 a barrel and Brent crude futures declining marginally to roughly $73.40. The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.46% from 4.38% at Monday's close, and Bitcoin traded around $58,700, down from overnight highs near $60,500. Gold futures were little changed at $4,030 an ounce, and the U.S. dollar index was unchanged at 101.10.