The S&P 500 reached a high of 6,828.01 on March 10, 2026 (Yahoo Finance). Given the all-time high of 7,002.58 (Trading Economics), the index was approximately 2.49% below its record, which validates the 'within 2.5%' claim. The index also closed higher than the previous day, supporting the 'daily high' and 'continued strength' narrative, although some reports noted underlying investor caution due to inflation and geopolitical risks.