S&P 500 Logs 9th Straight Week of Gains as Stocks Hit Records

Major U.S. stock indexes finished the week and month at record highs, driven by a surge in technology shares and optimism regarding artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 extended its winning streak to nine consecutive weeks, while the Nasdaq Composite posted a roughly 8% gain for May [1].

Key takeaways

• The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all closed at record highs, with the benchmark index rising for a ninth straight week [1].
• Technology stocks led the rally, with Dell Technologies jumping 32% on strong AI demand and Snowflake soaring 36% on a major Amazon deal [1, 2].
• For the month of May, the Nasdaq rose roughly 8%, the S&P 500 gained about 5%, and the Dow increased by 3% [1].
• Oil prices retreated following reports of a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal, while inflation data showed a softer monthly rise than expected [1, 2].

Tech Sector Drives Record-Breaking Month

The market's upward momentum was largely fueled by significant gains in the technology sector. Dell Technologies posted its best day ever on Friday, with shares surging 32% after the server maker reported better-than-expected results and lifted its outlook on booming AI demand [1]. This rally followed a move the previous day where Snowflake shares soared 36% after the cloud-based data platform provider topped analyst estimates and announced a $6 billion AI deal with Amazon [2]. Despite these individual wins, the "Magnificent Seven" stocks ended mostly lower on Friday, though Microsoft shares rose 5.5% [1]. For the month, the tech-heavy Nasdaq outperformed its peers, rising roughly 8%, compared to a 5% gain for the S&P 500 and a 3% rise for the Dow [1].

Geopolitical Optimism and Economic Data

Broader market sentiment was also shaped by developments in oil markets and government economic reports. Oil prices pulled back as West Texas Intermediate futures fell 1.7% to $87.75 and Brent crude settled down 1.8% to $92.05, following reports that President Donald Trump would make a final determination on a proposal to end the war with Iran [1]. On the economic front, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, showed headline inflation rising 3.8% year-over-year in April, matching expectations, while the monthly reading of 0.4% came in below the 0.5% forecast [2]. However, first-quarter U.S. GDP was revised down to 1.6% from an initial reading of 2.0% [2].

Why it matters

The record-breaking performance underscores the market's intense focus on artificial intelligence as a primary driver of corporate value. The surge in Dell and Snowflake shares coincides with reports that AI lab Anthropic reached a valuation of nearly $1 trillion, and SpaceX is preparing for what could be the largest IPO in history next month [1]. While the softer-than-expected monthly inflation reading provided some relief, the overall data suggests the path to lower interest rates remains unclear; Northlight Asset Management noted that the current economic environment makes a rate cut in 2026 increasingly unlikely [2]. Investors are also watching regulatory developments in the crypto sector, where shares of SoFi Technologies jumped on news of a new stablecoin, and the sports sector, where MSG Sports hit record highs ahead of the New York Knicks' NBA Finals appearance [1].