Stock futures rose on Wednesday, while oil prices declined to start the month, as hope grew that an end to the U.S.-Iran war was on the horizon. Futures linked to the S&P 500 were last up 0.6%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.9%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 237 points, or 0.5%. Late Tuesday, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he expects the U.S. military forces will leave Iran in “two or three weeks.” Traders also increased positions in U.S. Treasurys, sending yields lower, on expectations that inflation will be kept in check. The benchmark 10-year yield slipped to 4.28%. The 2-year note yield also fell to 3.766%. Optimism around a potential end to the war sent stocks soaring on Tuesday, the final trading day of March. The moves came after an unconfirmed report said that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was open to ending the war with guarantees. He made similar remarks earlier this month, saying in an X post that the “only way to end this war … is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int’l guarantees against future aggression.” Not all investors are convinced that the rally has legs. Karen Finerman, co-founder and CEO of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, noted that oil prices remain elevated, perhaps hinting at lingering uncertainty. Brent crude futures for May delivery settled about 5% higher at $118.35 per barrel on Tuesday, posting its highest close since June 16, 2022. “I’m sort of leaning towards the oil is telling the truth of the situation. I think a lot of what happened here — oversold, for sure — but I got to think a lot of this is window dressing. We are at the end of a really difficult quarter, and so that’ll help a little bit, but I don’t know that that’s something that has follow-through,” she said on CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Tuesday afternoon. Investors will get more clues on the path forward for the U.S.-Iran war Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, with Trump set to deliver an address “to the nation to provide an important update.” Asia-Pacific markets rebounded Wednesday after statements from U.S. President Donald Trump raised hopes that the Iran war could end soon. South Korea’s Kospi led gains in the region, surging 8.44% and ending at 5,478.7. The gain was the Kospi’s largest gain since March 5, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 6.06% to close at 1,116.18. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 5.24% to 53,739.68, led by financial stocks, while the broad-based Topix added 4.95% and ended at 3,670.9. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1.88% in its final hour of trade, powered by basic materials stocks, while mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 1.71% to end at 4,526.06. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 2.24% and finished at 8,671.8, driven by a rise in educational services stocks. India’s Nifty 50 was up 2.14%, while the Sensex had gained 2.56% as of 1:30 p.m. local time. Crude prices fell on Wednesday as investors weighed U.S. President Donald Trump’s willingness to exit the Iran conflict within weeks, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery was down 1.89% at $99.46 a barrel as of 8:26 a.m. ET, while Brent contract for June delivery was down 1.91% to trade around $101.98 a barrel. The global oil benchmark surged more than 60% last month, in its strongest monthly rally dating back to 1988. The May contract settled about 5% higher on Tuesday at $118.35 per barrel. Gold rose on ​Wednesday as investors awaited further clarity on reports of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the war with Iran could wind down ⁠in ‌weeks. Spot gold gained 1.2% to $4,725.12 per ounce. U.S. gold futures for April delivery gained 1.5% to $4,715.70. Gold fell more ⁠than 11% in March in its steepest monthly fall since October 2008 as elevated oil ‌prices fuelled inflation concerns and bets of a hawkish monetary ‌policy response.