S&P 500 Hits Record Start to May as Oil Eases and Apple Rises

The benchmark index opened May at a fresh high after a strong April, when both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted their best monthly gains since 2020.

Summary

The S&P 500 closed at a new record at the start of May, supported by easing oil prices and gains in Apple shares. The move followed a strong April, when both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite recorded their best monthly performance since 2020. The update points to continued strength in major U.S. equity benchmarks, with lower energy prices helping sentiment while a large technology stock contributed to index gains.

Terms & Concepts
  • S&P 500: A major U.S. stock index tracking 500 large listed companies, widely used as a benchmark for overall market performance.
  • Nasdaq Composite: A stock market index heavily weighted toward technology companies and commonly used to gauge sentiment in growth-oriented equities.