The S&P 500 closed April at 7,209.01, marking its strongest monthly performance since 2020 despite persistent concerns around energy prices. The information technology sector led all S&P 500 components with a gain of nearly 18% for the month. The index also notched a single-session gain of roughly 1% to close at a record high.
A near-18% monthly surge in tech means growth-heavy portfolios and funds with large IT allocations — think QQQ or XLK — saw outsized gains. Investors holding broad index funds like SPY also benefited meaningfully, as tech carries the largest weight in the S&P 500. The record close signals that institutional money is rotating back into risk assets, which typically supports continued momentum in equities short-term.
May FOMC meeting (date TBC, typically first week of May): Federal Reserve rate decision. May CPI inflation report (typically mid-month): next read on whether inflation is cooling. Q1 earnings season continuation: remaining S&P 500 companies reporting results through mid-May.
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