US Stock Indexes Close Higher, Adding to All-Time Highs

Major U.S. stock indexes concluded Friday trading on Wall Street with gains, building upon the all-time highs established the previous day [1, 2]. The S&P 500 saw its seventh consecutive day of gains, marking its ninth straight winning week, a streak not seen since 2023 [1, 2]. Technology stocks were a driving force, with Dell Technologies experiencing a significant surge following strong profit reports and an optimistic outlook tied to AI computing demand [1, 2].

Key takeaways

• The S&P 500 rose 0.2% on Friday, May 29, 2026 [1, 2].
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.7% [1, 2].
• The Nasdaq composite climbed 0.2% [1, 2].
• The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies declined by 0.6% [1, 2].
• Dell Technologies stock surged 32.8% after exceeding profit expectations [1, 2].

Indexes Reach New Milestones Amid Tech Strength

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the S&P 500 advanced 16.43 points to close at 7,580.06 [1, 2]. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 363.49 points, reaching 51,032.46, a 0.7% increase [1, 2]. The Nasdaq composite also saw a modest rise of 55.15 points, ending the day at 26,972.62, a 0.2% gain [1, 2]. In contrast, the Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller companies, fell 17.23 points, or 0.6%, to 2,919.34 [1, 2]. For the week, the S&P 500 was up 1.4%, the Dow up 0.9%, and the Nasdaq up 2.4% [1, 2]. The Russell 2000 also posted a weekly gain of 1.7% [1, 2].

The strong performance in tech stocks, particularly Dell's significant jump of 32.8%, was attributed to powerful demand for AI computing and profits that surpassed expectations [1, 2]. Dell also raised its future outlook, further bolstering investor confidence [1, 2]. European and Asian markets largely mirrored the positive trend, with most indexes also rising [1, 2]. However, Brent crude oil prices saw a decrease of 1.7% [1, 2].

Divergent Market Performance and Annual Gains

While major indexes climbed, one report indicates a different market scenario on Friday, May 29, 2026. According to this account, the U.S. stock market fell from its records, participating in a global stock downturn influenced by higher oil prices that unsettled the bond market [4]. In this version, the S&P 500 declined 1.2% from its all-time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.5% from its record [4]. Technology stocks, especially those considered AI winners, led the decline, with some critics suggesting they had advanced too far [4]. The 30-year Treasury yield reportedly returned to levels seen in 2007 amid concerns that rising oil prices could exacerbate inflation [4].

Despite these contrasting reports for the day, year-to-date figures show substantial gains across the board. For the year, the S&P 500 is up 10.7%, the Dow is up 6.2%, and the Nasdaq has surged 16.1% [1, 2]. The Russell 2000 has seen a year-to-date increase of 17.6% [1, 2].