May saw a shift and many of my clients saw the impact of that shift in their portfolio. So what news should you be paying attention to? And how does all of this impact you? Here’s the bottom line.
How Did the Market Perform?
Markets were strong again (+5%–10%)—but with bumps along the way that matter.
The S&P 500 rose 5.3%, powered by strong AI-driven earnings. [saffroncapital.com], [rscapital.com]
The Nasdaq 100 surged 10.6%, driven by booming semiconductor and AI infrastructure demand. [saffroncapital.com], [rscapital.com]
Dow Jones closed May near 51,000, up about 3%, hitting fresh all-time highs. [alainguillot.com]
So yes—the market is delivering gains, but it’s increasingly narrow, focused on big-cap tech and AI.
What’s Behind It? Key Market Movers
New Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh (as of May 15)—Markets immediately grew cautious as rate-cut hopes faded. Futures now show 50–70% odds of a rate hike by year-end. [saffroncapital.com], [cbsnews.com], [cryptobriefing.com]
10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.44%–4.50%, pressuring borrowing costs and increasing stock volatility. If the 10-year continue rising, this may stall potential growth in equities. [alainguillot.com], [cnbc.com]
AI boom: Tech earnings beat expectations, giving a clear boost to stock market performance. [saffroncapital.com], [rscapital.com]
Sector Snapshot: Winners & Losers
Technology led all sectors with a massive 16% gain. [rscapital.com], [alainguillot.com]
Consumer Discretionary rose 2.6%; Health Care about 2.5%. [rscapital.com]
Energy, Utilities, and Consumer Staples all lagged: Energy fell −5–6%, Utilities −5.1%, Staples −3.2%. [rscapital.com], [alainguillot.com]
This tells us tech and growth are in charge, while traditional sectors are taking a back seat.
Global & Geopolitical News: Oil & Iran Conflict
The war involving Iran disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, pushing crude oil prices up to $100–$115/barrel by month end. [saffroncapital.com], [en.wikipedia.org]
West Texas Intermediate stayed above $100, fueling inflation worries. [alainguillot.com], [en.wikipedia.org]
This price pressure isn’t small—it hits directly at the pump, in grocery bills, and on household utility costs.
How Are Families Feeling? Consumer Sentiment & Confidence
University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment dropped to 44.8—a record low—on worries over gas and grocery prices. [forbes.com], [investinglive.com]
Conference Board Consumer Confidence dipped slightly to 93.1. [conference-board.org]
That means families are genuinely anxious, even if jobs are steady—it’s the cost of living that’s causing stress.
What’s are we doing for you & your family?
Holding your portfolio steady—we’re keeping a mix of growth and defensive investments so you’re in the right spots, no matter what headlines hit.
Managing risk—with rising rates and geopolitical uncertainty, we’re balancing income-producing assets against the fast growth in the tech space.
Planning with confidence—we’re monitoring your borrowing costs and living expenses, and ready to adjust asset mix, cash cushions, or debt strategies as needed.
Conversations About Legacy & Family Planning Matter Even More
A lot of financial advice focuses on how to grow wealth.
What we focus on is what happens when volatility or life is introduced.
Because that’s when people stop planning—and start reacting…. And if that happens, you don’t just lose money, you lose time and control.
So we are encouraging you to schedule an appointment. Not just to look at the market or assets. But to plan for the changes that reality presents when life changes. So call today to schedule your meeting because if things are changing, our next conversation should be about lifestyle and decisions to preserve that lifestyle whatever they may be.
