The ongoing war in Ukraine, hostilities in the Middle East, rising U.S. debt, concerns about consumer debt and bank loans, and U.S. political division have not prevented the bull market in stocks from charging higher. The S&P 500 index, the most diversified U.S. stock market index, fell in Q1 2026 but recovered, rising above 7,000 and reaching a new all-time high in April 2026.
I asked if the S&P 500 could reach 10,000 in a December 30, 2025, Barchart article, concluding with the following:
