Stocks closed in the green again during the holiday-shortened trading week, despite persistent inflation and renewed uncertainties in the Middle East.
Stocks
US markets were closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. When stocks returned on Tuesday, the S&P 500 picked up where it left off the prior week, gaining 0.61% as the tech sector led the charge. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq jumped 1.19%, driven by a 19% jump in Micron Technology (
Bonds
US Treasury yields spent much of the week in a narrow range as investors digested news. On Tuesday, the 10-year yield sat at 4.50% as markets returned from the holiday weekend, with geopolitical uncertainty and persistent inflation concerns keeping yields elevated. They moved modestly throughout the week, with the longer end of the curve pulled in different directions by each new development from the Middle East. On Thursday, new developments regarding the conflict in Iran initially pushed yields higher, reflecting renewed concerns over oil supply and inflation. However, they managed to pull back toward the end of the day. Investors are now pricing in roughly a 50% probability of a Fed rate hike by December, a significant shift from just a month ago.
Oil
Oil prices spent the week reacting to every headline out of the Middle East. Brent crude was trading around $100 per barrel as the week began, buoyed by the ongoing conflict and the continued partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Prices pulled back mid-week after rumors briefly stoked hopes that the Strait could be reopened soon. However, the White House quickly denied the report, and shortly after, new developments regarding the conflict reignited supply-risk concerns. WTI climbed back above $90 per barrel on Thursday, while Brent pushed toward $96 to $97. Despite the late-week rebound, oil still pulled back for the second straight week, with prices falling on Friday on new hopes of a peace deal regarding the conflict in Iran.
Gold
Gold started the week with a bounce, trading around $4,520 per ounce on Tuesday as investors weighed geopolitical developments and dollar movements. However, the bounce wouldn't last long. By Wednesday, gold had fallen to around $4,420, pulling back from those early gains as oil prices eased and inflation fears briefly cooled. On Thursday, prices slid further, touching a low near $4,390, their weakest level in nearly 2 months. Nevertheless, it managed to bounce again on Thursday. The dynamic continues to reflect a market where rising rate expectations from persistent inflation are weighing on the metal even as the fundamental case for owning a safe-haven asset remains strong.
Crypto
Bitcoin spent most of the shortened week drifting lower, unable to sustain the enthusiasm from equities. On Tuesday, it held above $75,000 as broader risk appetite got a lift from tech stocks. But it slipped below that level on Wednesday on new developments regarding the conflict in Iran, and fell further on Thursday, trading near $73,000 to $74,000 as hot inflation data and renewed Middle East uncertainties hit sentiment. The broader crypto market moved in kind, with major altcoins all trading lower on the week.
| Past week | Year-to-date | 5-year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 1.3% | 10.6% | 79.3% |
| Oil (WTI crude) | –4.2% | 53.4% | 26.3% |
| Gold (New York) | 0.8% | 6.1% | 142.2% |
| Bitcoin | –4.6% | –17.2% | 105.8% |
Source: Yahoo Finance, as of May 29, 2026.
KEY DATA FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 1
Investors will be closely watching earnings from major tech and retail companies, as well as a crucial employment situation report at the end of the week.
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( |
ISM manufacturing index – Monday |
| Palo Alto Networks ( |
EIA petroleum status report – Wednesday |
| Dollar General ( |
Productivity and costs – Thursday |
| Ulta Beauty ( |
EIA natural gas report – Thursday |
| Broadcom ( |
Jobless claims – Thursday |
| lululemon ( |
Employment situation – Friday |
| See the full earnings calendar (login required). | See the full economic calendar. |
Source: Fidelity.com, as of May 29, 2026.