S&P 500 Ends Flat After Trump’s China Remarks, But Logs Strongest Monthly Gain Since 2023

The S&P 500 ended Friday nearly unchanged in a volatile session, closing at 5,911.69, down just 0.01%. Despite the day’s choppiness, the benchmark index rose 6.2% in May—its strongest monthly gain since November 2023—while the Nasdaq surged 9.6%, also marking its best performance since then. The Dow Jones edged up 0.13% to 42,270.07, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.32% to 19,113.77.

Investor sentiment wavered as U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of violating a trade agreement on his Truth Social platform, then pivoted to a more optimistic tone by suggesting a potential call with President Xi Jinping to resolve trade tensions. Market strategists say constant tariff-related headlines have created unpredictability, with some describing the news cycle as “maddening.”

May was marked by uncertainty due to Trump’s shifting trade stance, but easing inflation, solid earnings, and softer rhetoric later in the month helped stocks recover from April’s lows. The S&P 500 now sits less than 4% below its record high from February.

Meanwhile, U.S. consumer spending rose 2.1% year-over-year in April, slightly lower than March’s 2.3% increase. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE index, remains key to forecasting rate cuts, with markets still expecting a possible rate reduction in September.

Ulta Beauty stock jumped 11.8% after raising its full-year profit outlook. On the NYSE, declining stocks outpaced gainers by a 1.14-to-1 ratio, while the Nasdaq saw a 1.43-to-1 ratio of decliners to advancers. Trading volume reached 19.34 billion shares, above the 20-day average.

Trump-era tariffs, once at 2%-3%, now average 15%, with recent legal rulings stalling any near-term reduction.