The S&P 500 soared to a new high, surpassing 5400 for the first time on Wednesday 12 June 2024, following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy statement and the May 2024 inflation report, which suggested a softening of inflationary pressures.
The S&P 500 index rose by 0.85%, closing at around 5421 while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.53%, finishing at 17608.
Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached unprecedented levels and set closing records on Wednesday 12th June 2024. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average marginally declined by 0.09%, or around 35 points, to settle at 38712.
S&P 500 at new all-time high 12th June 2024
Nasdaq Composite at new all-time high 12th June 2024
The Federal Reserve maintained the interest rates, aligning with widespread expectations. The Fed also acknowledged some progress on inflation. Modest further progress has been made toward the Committee’s 2% inflation goal and this was more than enough coupled with the recent jobs report to push U.S. markets even higher.
A tiny glimpse of the ‘2% inflation future’ was all it took to send markets on an AI led feeding frenzy to push the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new all-time highs.
One caveat though, the Fed’s recent forecasts predict only one rate reduction this year, a decrease from the three rate cuts anticipated earlier in 2024.
It was enough to propel markets to fresh all-time highs!