What a month May turned out to be! After a rocky start to the year, Wall Street delivered its strongest monthly rally in a year and a half, with the S&P 500 posting its best May since 1990—a gain of more than 6%. The Dow Jones Industrials climbed 4%, and the Nasdaq soared, up 10% for the month, driven by a tech resurgence led by the artificial intelligence industry. Nvidia was the standout, jumping over 23% in May after a blockbuster earnings report and continued optimism around AI.

Last week, global equity markets faced renewed volatility and a distinct shift in sentiment. U.S. stocks led the retreat, with the S&P 500 down 2.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average off 2.5%, and the Nasdaq falling 2.5%. Small- and mid-cap stocks fared even worse, reflecting broad-based risk aversion. Yet, the S&P 500 now sits just 5.6% below its all-time high set only three months ago. Are we going higher from here? Will you be on board if we do? Tune as Charles Brown, III, Portfolio Manager with CB3 Financial will give you some comfort in these emotional times as an investor.

Last week, U.S. S&P 500 stocks surged 5%, even as Moody’s downgraded U.S. debt. The market shrugged off the news, the same news which had raised questions about market resilience and fiscal stability. We break down the rally, update the inflation trends, and preview this week’s crucial economic data that could shape market direction. Tune in for this timely insight with Charles Brown on CB3's Market Update.