04:08 PM EDT, 04/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes ended higher on Wednesday after crude oil prices dropped amid expectations that the Iran war could come to an end soon.

* Trump plans to deliver an "important update on Iran" on Wednesday night as he expects to wrap up the Iran war in "two weeks, maybe three," multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

* US retail sales rose by 0.6% in February, compared with January's revised 0.1% decline and above the 0.5% gain expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

* The Institute for Supply Management's US manufacturing index rose to 52.7 in March from 52.4 in February, above the 52.3 estimated in a Bloomberg-compiled poll.

* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.84 to settle at $99.54 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $3.07 at $100.90.

* Intel ( INTC ) and Apollo Global Management ( APO ) said Wednesday they have reached a deal for Intel ( INTC ) to buy back the 49% stake in their Ireland Fab 34 joint venture for $14.2 billion. Intel ( INTC ) shares rose 8.8%.

* Nike ( NKE ) shares were down roughly 16%, the worst performer on the S&P 500 and the Dow, after the sportswear maker reported lower fiscal Q3 earnings.