Stocks rose last week as peace talks picked up while investors cheered better-than-expected economic news and Q1 corporate results. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 2.33% to another round of new highs as the technology sector climbed on deals and earnings. The S&P 500 ended Friday's session at 7,398.93, marking its latest all-time closing high. The market benchmark also set a fresh intraday high on Friday at 7,401.50, its sixth consecutive week of gains. The index is up 8.1% for the year while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 4.51% closing Friday's session at 26,247.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.22% closing Friday's session at 49,609.16. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 1.24%.1,2 Sixth Straight Week of GainsThis week's advance came as deal chatter and better-than-expected earnings drove strong gains in the technology sector. The deals included a preliminary agreement under which Intel (INTC) will make some of the chips powering Apple (AAPL) devices, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter. Also, payroll data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the US economy added more jobs than projected in April. This helped allay concerns about a slowdown in the labor market. Investors also saw the data as likely allowing the Federal Reserve to stick to its current policy stance. Nonfarm payrolls for April rose by 115,000, well above the 65,000 increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. Private payrolls growth slowed to 123,000 in April from 190,000 the month prior, the BLS reported, surpassing the consensus estimate for a 75,000 gain. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3% in April, in line with Wall Street's estimates. The technology sector jumped 7% on the week, followed by a 1.9% increase in communication services and a 1.8% increase in consumer discretionary. Materials, industrials and real estate also edged higher. Akamai Technologies (AKAM) and Datadog (DDOG) topped the technology sector as shares soared 42% each. Akamai's Q1 results included a slight earnings beat and Chief Executive Tom Leighton said a US-based frontier model provider has committed $1.8 billion over seven years for the company's cloud infrastructure services. A Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter said the partner is Amazon.com-backed (AMZN) artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. Datadog's surge came as the software maker posted higher-than-expected Q1 results and raised its full-year outlook. Walt Disney's (DIS) stock was the best performer in communication services, climbing 4.8% on the week as the media and entertainment company's fiscal second-quarter results came in ahead of market estimates amid revenue gains across all business operations. Disney also reiterated expectations for growth to accelerate in the second half. Tesla (TSLA) led the gainers in consumer discretionary. The electric vehicle maker's shares rose 9.6% amid a report that the company's China-made electric vehicle sales rose for a sixth consecutive month on a year-over-year basis. On the downside, the energy sector fell 5.4%, followed by a 4% loss in utilities, a 1.4% slip in financials and a 1.2% decline in health care. Consumer staples were also lower. The drop in the energy sector came as crude oil futures also fell on the week. APA (APA) was hit the hardest in the sector, losing 11% despite the company's Q1 earnings coming in above analysts' mean estimate. In utilities, NRG Energy (NRG) shares had the largest percentage drop for the week, falling 10%. The company reported Q1 adjusted earnings per share below analysts' mean estimate even as revenue topped the Street view. |
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Source: YCharts.com, May 9, 2026. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points. |
Jobs Report SurpriseEmployers added 115,000 jobs in April, versus the 55,000 economists expected. Jobs grew the most in the healthcare, retail, and leisure & hospitality sectors. Another good sign: unemployment held steady at 4.3% last month.7 In other economic news, the new home sales data released last week showed sales for both February and March exceeded expectations. In March, 682,000 newly constructed homes were sold, up 7.4% over the prior month, while February new home sales jumped 8.9% over February.8 This Week: Key Economic DataMonday: Existing Home Sales. Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Consumer Price Index (CPI). Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaks. Monthly Federal Budget. Wednesday: Producer Price Index (PPI). Boston Fed President Susan Collins speaks. Thursday: Retail Sales. Weekly Jobless Claims. Import Price Index. Business Inventories. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack and Fed Governor Michael Barr speak. Friday: Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization. Home Builder Confidence Index. Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar: May 8, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision. This Week: Companies Reporting EarningsMonday: Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) Wednesday: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Thursday: Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT), Brookfield Corporation (BN) Source: Zacks, May 8, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice. |
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The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. –William Shakespeare |
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More Digital Choices For FilingThe IRS has made it easier to file your taxes. Forms now include electronic signature options, allowing tax professionals to conduct remote transactions. To allow your tax professional to use the electronic signature option, you must fill out and submit Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. This form constitutes a written authorization appointing tax professionals to represent taxpayers before the IRS, including performing certain acts on the taxpayer’s behalf. These acts may include providing an electronic signature. This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult with a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific tax issues. Tip adapted from IRS.gov9 |
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Hydrate the Healthy WayAre you trying to kick a soda habit but sick of water? There are many fun and healthy means to make your water taste better and encourage you to drink more. Here are some easy ways to spice up your normal water: Add fresh fruit slices, such as lemon, lime, or orange. Not only will these fruits make your water taste better, but you may also enjoy some of the benefits of these citrus powerhouses. Add some sliced cucumber to your water to make it feel pampered. Who needs the spa when you have a nice glass of cucumber water sitting at your desk? Try some sugar-free, low-calorie water sweeteners. They are an appealing option for those who have a sweet tooth and crave soda but are trying to drink more water. Mix it up with sparkling water or seltzer if you miss the fizz of soda. Most sparkling waters are calorie-free or low in calories while keeping you hydrated. It would help to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water daily. What are some of your favorite methods to make water more exciting? Tip adapted from Baton Rouge Clinic10 |
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They have wings. As they grow up, they also grow down. What are they? Last Week's Riddle: Katherine and Sterling each have the same number of pears. How many pears does Katherine need to give Sterling so that Sterling has 10 more pears than she does? Answer: 5. When Katherine gives Sterling 5 pears, she will lose 5, and he will gain five, resulting in a net difference of 10. So they both have at least 5 pears to begin with. |
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Moraine Lake Alberta, Canada |
Footnotes And Sources1. WSJ.com, May 8, 2026 11. MT Newswires, YCharts.com, May 4 - May 8, 2026 |
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