* Indexes: Dow down 0.22%, S&P 500 up 0.11%, Nasdaq up

0.42%

* Bank of America ( BAC ), Morgan Stanley ( MS ) gain after results

* Broadcom ( AVGO ) rises 3.6% after Meta extends chip deal

(Updates to after market open)

By Niket Nishant and Utkarsh Hathi

April 15 (Reuters) - The benchmark S&P 500 and the

tech-heavy Nasdaq edged higher on Wednesday, as attention turned

to a fresh batch of corporate earnings, while investors took

stock of the latest developments in the Middle East.

Equities have found support this week on hopes that

Washington and Tehran could return to the negotiating table to

end the war, which has caused widespread disruption in global

oil markets, reignited inflation concerns and muddied the

interest-rate outlook.

The resilience suggests that war-weary investors are ready

to rotate into risk assets at the slightest indication of a

de-escalation in the conflict.

"The market is cautiously optimistic that we can get back to

peace with Iran. And thus far, the earnings have been very

good," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley

Wealth.

Bank of America ( BAC ) shares rose 1.6% after the

second-biggest U.S. lender reported growth in its first-quarter

profit.

Wall Street heavyweight Morgan Stanley ( MS ) climbed 4.4%

after it also reported a jump in first-quarter profit.

So far this week, banks have said U.S. consumers are

financially healthy and that pipelines for initial public

offerings and deals should remain robust unless the Middle East

conflict drags on for much longer.

The S&P 500 financial index gained 0.4%.

At 09:57 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average

fell 108.22 points, or 0.22%, to 48,427.77. The S&P 500

gained 7.53 points, or 0.11%, to 6,974.91, while the

Nasdaq Composite advanced 100.09 points, or 0.42%,

to 23,739.18.

Wall Street's fear gauge, the CBOE volatility index,

dropped 0.68 point to 17.68.

The benchmark S&P 500 index is nearing its first

intraday record high since the conflict erupted. The S&P 500 and

the tech-heavy Nasdaq have recouped all their losses

since the war began.

New catalysts, however, may be needed to sustain the

momentum in stocks.

"We're going to need more concrete evidence now that the

folks that want to get together and talk about peace are able to

accomplish something before the deadline of this ceasefire,"

Hogan said.

The International Monetary Fund cut its outlook for global

growth on Tuesday, citing the war-driven energy price spikes,

and warned that an extended conflict could push the world to the

brink of a recession.

Oil prices were steady on Wednesday, though remaining 31%

above pre-war levels.

Seven of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes posted losses, with

materials leading the declines with a 1.2% drop.

Consumer staples fell 0.9%.

The S&P 500 information technology index rose

0.8%, as a recent rally in software stocks continued.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack

said while she sees no imminent need for the central bank to

change its interest-rate target setting, it is possible cuts or

even hikes could lie ahead.

Among other stock movers, Broadcom ( AVGO ) advanced 3.6%

after Meta extended its custom chips deal with the

firm.

Snap rose nearly 7% after it said it would lay off

about 1,000 employees, while Allbirds ( BIRD ) surged more than

fourfold following its plan to pivot to AI infrastructure.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.26-to-1 ratio

on the NYSE and by a 1.14-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and one new low,

while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 51 new highs and 22 new

lows.