S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs as Dow Jones stumbles on mixed Friday
US stock markets closed with mixed results on Friday, despite a strong month for major indexes. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit fresh record highs, while the Dow Jones slipped slightly after losing early gains. Several big names drove the day’s movements in opposite directions. The S&P 500 wrapped up its best monthly performance since 2020, ending Friday at 7,246—a rise of about 0.5%. The Nasdaq also set a new closing record, climbing nearly 1% to 25,149. Tech stocks led the gains, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF surging 3.1% during the session.
Apple shares jumped 4% after the company reported strong quarterly results. Moderna also rose 3% following better-than-expected international sales of its COVID vaccine. These gains helped push the broader market higher. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones struggled. An early rally of over 300 points faded as the day progressed, leaving the index down roughly 0.1% at 49,620. Weakness in Amgen, Home Depot, and Sherwin-Williams—each falling by 1% or more—pulled the Dow into negative territory by the closing bell.
The session marked another milestone for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, both finishing at all-time highs. The Dow, however, could not hold its initial momentum and ended the day slightly lower. Friday’s trading capped off a standout month for the S&P 500, its strongest since late 2020.
