Major Market Indexes Performance
June 7, 2025
Major Market Indexes Performance
S&P 500 Index: The S&P 500 hit 6,000 points for the first time since February 21, 2025, with the benchmark index closing just 2.4% away from its record closing high set on February 19th. The index has gained 1.5% since the start of 2025, making it the top performer among the three major indexes, slightly outpacing both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite over that period. Recent performance shows the S&P 500 posted its best monthly performance in May since November 2023 with a 6.15% gain, breaking a three-month losing streak as concerns about tariffs eased and corporate earnings remained generally strong.
Nasdaq Composite: The tech-heavy Nasdaq surged 9.56% in May 2025, marking its best monthly performance since November 2023 when it gained 10.7%, and representing its second positive month in a row. The Nasdaq Composite has gained 1.1% since the start of 2025, with recent sessions showing continued strength as chip stocks led by Nvidia drive significant gains in the technology sector. Major technology companies including Nvidia have helped push the Nasdaq back into positive territory for 2025, with the index benefiting from continued optimism around AI infrastructure investments and strong corporate earnings reports.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: The Dow rose 3.94% in May 2025, breaking a three-month losing streak, though it has been the relative underperformer among the major indexes with more modest gains compared to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. The Dow has gained just 0.5% since the start of 2025, making it the weakest performer among the three major indexes as investors have favored technology and growth stocks over traditional industrial and value names. Steel stocks have provided recent strength to the Dow after President Trump announced plans to double tariffs on steel imports to 50%, with companies like Cleveland-Cliffs soaring 21% and Steel Dynamics gaining about 10%.
Precious Metals Market Dynamics
Gold Performance: Gold has surged dramatically in 2025, rising 44.35% compared to a year ago and currently trading around $3,310 per troy ounce, representing approximately a 20-23% increase since the beginning of 2025. The World Gold Council reports that Q1 2025 saw the quarterly average price reach $2,860 per ounce, up 38% year-over-year, driven by US tariff concerns, geopolitical uncertainty, stock market volatility, and US dollar weakness. Goldman Sachs Research predicts gold will continue its ascent to $3,700 per troy ounce by the end of 2025, with potential to reach $3,880 in a recession scenario, as central banks continue massive monthly purchases and ETF investors increase holdings amid anticipated interest rate cuts.
Platinum and Rhodium Performance: Platinum is currently trading at $1,170.65 per troy ounce and faces mixed technical signals, with analysts providing cautious forecasts for 2025 expecting prices to fluctuate within the $1,050-$1,112 range, though some projections suggest potential upside to $1,322 by 2026. Rhodium has emerged as the standout performer among platinum group metals, increasing by 21.86% since the beginning of 2025 and currently trading around $5,600-$5,725 per troy ounce, driven by supply deficits particularly from South African production constraints. Industry analysts from Metals Focus predict rhodium will outperform platinum and palladium in 2025, as above-ground stocks are projected to fall by 23% to just 349,000 troy ounces - their lowest level in at least 40 years and equivalent to only four months of demand, making the metal susceptible to physical market squeezes.