Keyword → summer stock market 2026

S&P 500 Closes May at Record 7,520 — Up 5% for Month, Nasdaq +8.3%; AI Rally and Iran Peace Hopes Drive Ninth Consecutive Weekly Gain Despite Oil Above $90

The S&P 500 closed May 2026 at a record 7,520.36 — up approximately 5% for the month — while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 8.3% for its best monthly performance of 2026. The gains capped a ninth consecutive week of positive returns for the S&P 500, a streak driven by the AI infrastructure earnings cycle and intermittent Iran peace-deal optimism. June historically ranks as the worst month for equities in midterm election years, and Bank of America strategists warn stocks may be "running out of room" after the relentless post-war rally.