Major U.S. stock indexes ended the volatile week higher as cautious optimism around a possible U.S.-Iran agreement, declining oil prices, and continued broadening beyond large-cap tech stocks helped offset mixed inflation data and volatility in AI-related shares. Small-cap stocks led the advance, with the Russell 2000 Index rising 3.9%, while the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all added over 0.6%. The Russell 1000 Value Index outpaced its growth counterpart for the second week in a row. Risk appetite improved late in the week, following reports of progress toward a U.S.-Iran agreement and President Trump’s cancellation of planned strikes.

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Major U.S. stock indexes finished the week lower. Declines were led by the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which fell 4.68%, followed by the Russell 2000 and S&P 500 Indexes, the latter of which posted a weekly loss for the first time since March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average held up best, declining 0.32%. Early gains tied to artificial intelligence (AI) optimism faded later in the week as investors weighed oil price volatility tied to Middle East headlines, elevated earnings expectations for AI-linked companies, a growing pipeline of AI-related equity issuance, and a stronger-than-expected May payrolls report that helped push Treasury yields higher on Friday.

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Major U.S. stock indexes rose during the holiday-shortened week, with several benchmarks closing at record highs, as investor sentiment was supported by rising hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, falling oil prices, and continued momentum in artificial intelligence-linked stocks. The Nasdaq Composite led among the major benchmarks, buoyed in part by AI optimism, while the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500 Indexes also posted solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged but still rose 0.9%. Early reports that the U.S. and Iran were moving toward a 60-day ceasefire extension and a reopening of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz helped push oil prices lower and supported risk appetite through much of the week.

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 Major U.S. stock indexes closed the week higher, with the Dow Jones advancing to an all-time high and the S&P 500 Index rising for the eighth consecutive week, its longest winning streak since 2023. Small-cap and value stocks outperformed large-cap and growth shares. After a volatile start to the week, sentiment improved as enthusiasm around artificial intelligence (AI) stocks—supported in part by chipmaker NVIDIA’s stronger-than-expected earnings results—helped offset uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict. Additionally, while headlines around a possible deal between the U.S. and Iran remained fluid and sometimes conflicting, investors generally appeared to see negotiations as more likely than escalating military action.

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