Overview
- U.S. stocks entered the final week of May near multiweek highs with the S&P 500 on an eight‑week winning streak and the Dow approaching 51,000.
- The White House said on May 23 that an agreement with Iran is "largely negotiated," reportedly including steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a development markets treated as tentative until details are finalized.
- Bank of America data shows quarterly earnings growth tracking roughly 26% year over year, the strongest pace since 2021, driven in part by strong AI infrastructure demand.
- Investors will focus on a packed, Memorial Day‑shortened week of reports from Dell, Marvell, Salesforce, Dollar Tree, Burlington, Gap, and Best Buy, with Best Buy’s call watched as one of the first led by incoming CEO Jason Bonfig.
- Dollar stores and other retailers are being read as a test of lower‑income consumer strength, and key economic releases this week, including the Conference Board confidence reading and the PCE inflation index, could sway Fed expectations and market direction.