S&P 500 hits all-time record highs

The stock market’s bullish run shows no signs of slowing down. Analysts believe the market will keep climbing higher. The Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut has fueled optimism on Wall Street.

The S&P 500 is up 10 of the past 11 months.

The S&P 500 is up 9 of the past 10 weeks.

The S&P 500 is up 5 months in a row.

The S&P 500 is up 6 weeks in a row.

— Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) October 18, 2024

Investors are betting that more rate cuts are coming. They think this will boost the market, as the S&P 500 index is up over 20% this year.

The past three days the avg number of S&P 500 components hitting an all-time high has been 10.1%.

Highest since late March.

Be aware, that lead to the April weakness, but was a clue the overall trend was still very strong (stocks are 5 months in a row after April's decline).

— Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) October 17, 2024

It has risen 4% just since the Fed lowered rates last month. Investors have poured more than $20 billion into U.S. stock funds. Positive economic reports are adding to the confidence.

Stocks To Watch | 📊 Ready, set, trade! Keep an eye on these stocks as they set the market abuzz #StockMarket pic.twitter.com/X8LA5EHENg

— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) October 18, 2024

S&P 500’s bullish streak continues

The start of quarterly earnings announcements from big companies is also helping. These provide key numbers that analysts use to forecast the market’s direction. “When I talk to investors, there is much less concern about an economic downturn,” said Ben Snider, an equity analyst at Goldman Sachs. He noted a big change in sentiment compared to a year and a half ago. Lower interest rates are usually good for stocks. They can increase corporate profits and raise market valuations. Stocks also become more attractive compared to bond returns. Market watchers remain optimistic as more companies report their financial results. The Federal Reserve is committed to keeping inflation under control. Despite a small dip on Tuesday, the S&P 500 looks set to keep trending upward.