1. Why did the Dow Jones cross 50,000?
The Dow Jones breached the historic 50,000 threshold, primarily fueled by exceptional, higher-than-expected earnings reports from major tech firms and massive artificial intelligence spending.
2. Why do experts call 2026 a slow market year?
Growth velocity has diminished due to sticky core inflation,
» Read more about: Dow Jones at 50,000: Why 2026 May Be the Slowest Year of the Cycle »
A broad rally in beaten-down software stocks, combined with a positive analyst note, helped Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +8.04%) stock to rise by over 8% on Wednesday. Another factor positively affecting sentiment was the company’s position as an incumbent chipmaker, on a day when the most high-profile company in that space reported earnings.
» Read more about: Why Advanced Micro Devices Stock Was a big Winner on Wednesday »
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is targeting the largest stock market listing in history despite racking up losses of more than $40bn (£30bn) since its inception.
» Read more about: Musk’s SpaceX kicks off biggest stock market listing in history »
The renewable energy sector has had it tough the past few years.
Over the past half-decade, the Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index is down by 4%, while the S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index is down by more than 7%. Over the same period, the broader market as measured by the S&P 500 is up more than 78%.
Artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia’s quarterly results surpassed Wall Street’s expectations once again, fueled by massive demand for its high-end AI chips.
The company said Wednesday it earned $58.32 billion, or $2.39 per share, in the February-April period, up from $18.78 billion, or 76 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.
People who rely on Social Security benefits to survive are already facing significant challenges. Not only is the average payout too low for most people to survive on, but the fund that keeps the money flowing is predicted to run out within the next decade.
Now,
» Read more about: New SSA Proposal Could Cut Social Security Benefits for 400,000 Recipients »
Treasury yields moved lower as bond traders focused on the situation in the Middle East. The yield of 2-year Treasuries declined below the 4.05% level, while the yield of 10-year Treasuries settled near 4.57%. Falling Treasury yields provided additional support to SP500.
Today’s rally was broad, and most market sectors moved higher in today’s trading session.
Benchmark indices on Wall Street rallied on Wednesday, May 20, putting an end to days of sluggish moves on hopes that the Iran war will end soon, although nothing of substance has emerged from West Asia just yet.
The Dow Jones gained over 650 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 1.1% and 1.5% respectively.
» Read more about: Dow Jones, Wall Street rally on hopes of Iran war ending but futures fall »
By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market bounced back Wednesday after pressure eased on Wall Street from the bond market and oil prices gave back some of their big gains.
The S&P 500 climbed 1.1% for its first rise in four days and pulled closer to its all-time high set last week.
» Read more about: US stocks rally after pressure eases from the bond market and oil prices fall »