S&P 500, Nasdaq close at record highs, cap best quarter in over a year

NEW YORK - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record closing highs on Monday, capping their best quarter in over a year as hopes for trade deals and possible rate cuts eased investor uncertainty. Both indexes ended the quarter with double-digit gains. The S&P 500 gained 10.57 percent during the period, the Nasdaq rose 17.75 percent, and the Dow climbed 4.98 percent The Russell 2000 Small Cap index rose 8.28 percent in the quarter. Still, the three main indexes posted their weakest first-half performances since 2022, as the uncertainty around trade policy has kept investors wary during the year, with tensions peaking after President Donald Trump disclosed widespread tariffs on April 2. Trade deals with China and the UK have fueled optimism that an all-out global trade war can be minimized, with hopes for more deals to be reached before Trump's July 9 trade deadline. The end of the quarter was also influenced by managers tweaking their portfolios to look more attractive at quarter-end. "Animal spirits seem to have taken hold here," said Roy Behren, co-president of Westchester Capital managemenWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times