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The information provided on EL7.AI is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
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Sign InReflecting sustained bullish momentum on Wall Street, S&P 500 futures climbed, positioning the index for its eighth consecutive weekly gain—the longest such streak since 2023. According to reports, the rally is underpinned by persistent enthusiasm for AI-driven growth and solid corporate earnings, alongside geopolitical optimism regarding a potential US-Iran peace deal that pushed Brent crude up 2.6% to over $105 per barrel. Conversely, US-listed Chinese equities, including Alibaba and Baidu, faced selling pressure following news of fresh regulatory penalties from Beijing.
This robust performance in US equities comes amid a period of high market liquidity, which has significantly benefited mega-cap tech leaders like Nvidia and Microsoft. In contrast to the US strength, recent data from China showed industrial production growing at 4.1%, missing the 5.9% forecast per market data, which further weighed on sentiment for Chinese tech firms. Investors are also weighing the impact of higher oil prices, which, while rising on peace deal hopes, remain a critical factor for global inflation expectations.
Looking ahead, traders are watching for the S&P 500 to maintain its trajectory as of the close on May 22, 2026. Key catalysts in the coming week include global consumer confidence indices and inflation updates, which will provide further clarity on the Fed's monetary policy path. Additionally, the evolution of Chinese regulatory shifts and the finalized details of any US-Iran diplomatic progress will remain central to volatility in the energy and technology sectors.