How Major US Stock Indexes Fared May 21

ArtBackground/ShutterstockU.S. stocks ticked higher following the latest reversal for oil prices.The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent Thursday and inched closer to its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6 percent, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.1 percent.All three indexes erased early drops and gained strength after the price of a barrel of Brent dropped from $109 in the morning to settle below $103. Oil prices have swung with uncertainty about what will happen with the Iran war. The lower oil prices helped yields to ease in the bond market.On Thursday:The S&P 500 rose 12.75 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,445.72.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 276.31 points, or 0.6 percent, to 50,285.66.The Nasdaq composite rose 22.74 points, or 0.1 percent, to 26,293.10.The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 26.09 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,843.45.For the week:The S&P 500 is up 37.22 points, or 0.5 percent.The Dow is up 759.49 points, or 1.5 percent.The Nasdaq is up 67.95 points, or 0.3 percent.The Russell 2000 is up 50.15 points, or 1.8 percent.For the year:The S&P 500 is up 600.22 points, or 8.8 percent.The Dow is up 2,222.37 points, or 4.6 percent.The Nasdaq is up 3,051.11 points, or 13.1 percent.The Russell 2000 is up 361.55 points, or 14.6 percent.The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.