Stock Euphoria Abates at End of Big First Half: Markets Wrap
- S&P 500 has the second-best start of a year since 1998
- Oil climbs before OPEC+ meeting as Iran talks at standstill
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The end of one of the best first halves since 1998 for U.S. stocks was marked by small moves and slow trading.
Solid economic data tempered concern about elevated valuations and the spread of a more contagious coronavirus variant, with the S&P 500 closing slightly higher. The gauge notched its longest streak of quarterly gains since 2017 and has rallied 14% so far this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average outperformed major benchmarks Wednesday, while the Nasdaq 100 fell. The dollar had its best month since March 2020.