Early Look
Friday, May 8, 2026
Futures | Up/Down | % | Last |
Dow | 147.00 | 0.30% | 49,847 |
S&P 500 | 33.25 | 0.46% | 7,396 |
Nasdaq | 187.50 | 0.65% | 28,869 |
Despite the United States and Iran clashing again late yesterday near the Strait of Hormuz, with US forces targeting missile and drone launch sites and other military assets in Iran, U.S. futures are firmly in positive territory as nothing appears able to dent this resilient market that remains just off record highs. In futures, oil headed for a deep weekly loss as President Donald Trump said that a ceasefire with Iran still held despite renewed clashes between US and Iranian forces, sustaining speculation a deal may be struck. Oil prices jumped last night when the news was first reported but is now down on the morning. In Asian markets, The Nikkei Index dropped -120 points to 62,713, the Shanghai Index was little changed at 4,179, and the Hang Seng Index dropped -232 points to 26,393. In Europe, the German DAX is down -225 points to 24,438, while the FTSE 100 is down -38 points to 10,238. With the bulk of earnings season now behind us after last nights deluge, attention turns this morning back to data with the monthly nonfarm payrolls report and then next week with key CPI and PPI inflation data. It has been nonstop winning for Wall Street, on track for its 6th straight week of advances (following 5 straight weeks of losses prior in March) as Bank America data noted Investors flocked to cash and bonds last week and emerging market stocks saw their biggest outflows since January, according to Bank of America. The US had its sixth week of equity inflows at $9.3 billion, the firm said. Of the 425 S&P 500 companies to have reported thus far, 84% have beaten analysts’ estimates, while 11% have missed.
The rallying U.S. stock market will take its cues next week from fresh inflation and consumer spending data, developments in the war in Iran, and a high-stakes meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and China. U.S. equities have been on a tear, with the benchmark S&P 500 up more than 15% from its low for the year, hit in late March. The strongest U.S. quarterly earnings season in more than four years has lifted sentiment for equities, while worries about worst-case economic fallout from the Iran war have abated and investors are jumping in for fear of missing out on gains. Energy prices have soared in the wake of the Iran war, with U.S. crude up more than 60% for the year but has failed to dent global stock markets with many trading near their all-time best levels.
Market Closing Prices Yesterday
Economic Calendar for Today
Earnings Calendar:
Macro | Up/Down | Last |
Nymex | -0.22 | 94.61 |
Brent | -0.05 | 100.01 |
Gold | 17.30 | 4,728.20 |
EUR/USD | 0.0045 | 1.1771 |
JPY/USD | -0.22 | 156.71 |
10-Year Note | 0.009 | 4.% |
World News
Sector News Breakdown
Consumer
Energy, Industrials and Materials
Financials
Healthcare
Technology, Media & Telecom
Mid-Morning Look
Friday, May 08, 2026
Index | Up/Down | % | Last |
DJ Industrials | 118.65 | 0.24% | 49,714 |
S&P 500 | 58.04 | 0.79% | 7,395 |
Nasdaq | 341.19 | 1.32% | 26,148 |
Russell 2000 | 7.87 | 0.28% | 2,847 |
U.S. stocks soaring to new record highs just about daily over the last 2 weeks, helped by a very strong earnings season as of the 425 S&P 500 companies to have reported thus far, 84% have beaten analysts’ estimates, while 11% have missed. Adding fuel to the fire today a stronger jobs data, a positive for the economy with more jobs data and more weekly hours worked as the AI impact fears to jobs take a back seat today. April Nonfarm payrolls +115,000 (consensus +62,000) vs March upwardly revised figure of +185,000. After a small one day reprieve, semis back to tech leadership and mass outperformance over software (IGV) as the SOX rises 3% and IGV falls -2% behind HUBS results (the SOX Semi Index +9.4% on month and 5.3% on week). Another good week for major averages with the Nasdaq on track for a 4% rise, the S&P 500 2.2%, the Russell 2000 +1.3% and the Dow a modest rise. What can slow down this market?
While many TV pundits note the market rally has been broad based (which it has as Materials +13.5% YTD, Energy +24% and Industrials +12%), the biggest leaders in tech have pushed the XLK to +20% YTD and are mainly responsible for the mass jump in markets over the last 6 week winning streak. @KobeissiLetter noted on X, Alphabet, $GOOGL , Nvidia, $NVDA , Amazon, $AMZN , Broadcom, $AVGO , and Apple, $AAPL, have collectively accounted for ~50% of the S&P 500's total gains since April 1st. This means these 5 stocks have added ~6 percentage points to the +12% rally of the index over this period.” Memory stocks remain on fire as MU +9% on day topping $700 for the first time (up 36% in May and +147% YTD), and SNDK +7.5% on day (+31% in May and 507% this year) on surging memory prices for AI needs. Stocks look set to close at new highs (again) as President Trump’s statement that the Iran ceasefire is still holding despite headlines of some escalation late Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz, as a weekly loss for oil help futures regain positive momentum.
Regarding the Middle East, Iran said Thursday it is reviewing messages from the U.S. received via Pakistani mediators, but it has yet to reach a conclusion or deliver a reply, according to Iranian state media, citing an Iranian official. Axios and other news outlets reported earlier this week that the countries were nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding to put an end to the war and resume talks around Iran’s nuclear program.
Economic Data
Macro | Up/Down | Last |
WTI Crude | 0.66 | 95.47 |
Brent | 1.25 | 101.31 |
Gold | 26.30 | 4,737.20 |
EUR/USD | 0.0049 | 1.1774 |
JPY/USD | -0.31 | 156.60 |
10-Year Note | -0.042 | 4.352% |
Sector Movers Today
Stock GAINERS
Stock LAGGARDS
Closing Recap
Friday, May 08, 2026
Index | Up/Down | % | Last |
DJ Industrials | 12.07 | 0.02% | 49,609 |
S&P 500 | 61.76 | 0.84% | 7,398 |
Nasdaq | 440.88 | 1.71% | 26,247 |
Russell 2000 | 20.25 | 0.71% | 2,859 |
U.S. stock markets finish the day/week near highs in another straight up more from the opening bell, as the S&P 500 (SPX) officially topped 7,400 for the first time in history, now up over +17% since March 30th and the S&P and Nasdaq post a 6th straight week of gains amid maximum market bullishness on Ai demand growth boosting tech sectors leveraged to it (semis, optical, memory, data center), while software lags. It feels like maximum bullishness for Wall Street as every earnings beat, partnership, order related to the AI space sends tech stocks soaring daily as the semis (SOX) index added another 5% today (now up 65% in just four months after surging 40% in 2025), led by order or partner related headlines for INTC, AVGO (today alone), new highs for NVDA and strength in equipment names and of course memory/HDD stocks with MU, SNDK, WDC, STX which continue to be market leaders. Just truly astounding moves daily in tech land while broader S&P index is also buoyed by materials, industrials, and REITs (all up over 10% YTD), while healthcare and financials are both down over 6% YTD. This last leg higher the last few days certainly feels like FOMO buying as the biggest winners continue to surge.
Jobs numbers this week were strong, both the ADP private payroll report on Wednesday and today’s Nonfarm payroll report, pointing to continued labor market stability and reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged for some time while monitoring the economic fallout from the war with Iran. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000 jobs last month after an upwardly revised 185,000 advance in March, and well above the economists forecast of 62,000 jobs after a previously reported 178,000 rebound in March. Wages increased 3.6% in the 12 months through April after gaining 3.4% in March. There were some “red flags” however as more people worked part-time for economic reasons last month, with the number jumping by 445,000 to 4.9Mm and household employment declined but was partly offset by dropouts from the labor force, keeping the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.3%.
Next week’s attention turns to April’s inflation prints in the U.S. and China as well as high stakes talks between President Trump’s Beijing visit to see President Xi. The timing is at a crucial time amid the urgent push to de-escalate Middle East hostilities. The visit could be the most anticipated diplomatic event of the year, framed as a high-stakes deal-making session, albeit one with modest expectations. The backdrop of an ongoing energy crisis and the scheduled lapse of major trade frameworks in November instill significant uncertainty regarding the summit's outcomes. The most urgent priority is the Iran conflict and the impassable Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile economists expect the headline CPI to soften slightly to 0.8% YoY from 1.0% YoY previously, while the U.S. CPI report is next Wednesday and PPI on Thursday.
Interesting data points showed: Investors flocked to cash and bonds last week and emerging market stocks saw their biggest outflows since January, according to Bank of America. The US had its sixth week of equity inflows at $9.3 billion, BofA said. The Nasdaq 100 Index on Thursday reached an “extreme” spread of 13% above its 50-day moving average while also touching a 52-week high, according to BTIG LLC. The last time that happened, other than in September 2020, was in March 2000, at the peak of the dot-com bubble.
Economic Data
Commodities, Currencies & Treasuries
Macro | Up/Down | Last |
WTI Crude | 0.61 | 95.42 |
Brent | 0.86 | 100.91 |
Gold | 19.80 | 4,730.70 |
EUR/USD | 0.0049 | 1.1774 |
JPY/USD | -0.31 | 156.60 |
10-Year Note | -0.042 | 4.352% |
Sector News Breakdown
Consumer
Leisure, Gaming & Lodging:
Energy
Financials
Biotech & Pharma:
Industrials & Materials
Technology
Semiconductors:
Not offered or endorsed by Regal Securities
Street Recommendations
Friday, May 8, 2026
B. RILEY
BARCLAYS
BOFA
BTG PACTUAL
BTIG
CANACCORD
CANTOR FITZGERALD
CHARDAN
CITI
DAIWA
GOLDMAN SACHS
GUGGENHEIM
HSBC
JEFFERIES
JPMORGAN
KEYBANC
MORGAN STANLEY
OPPENHEIMER
PIPER SANDLER
RAYMOND JAMES
RBC CAPITAL
STIFEL
TD COWEN
TELSEY ADVISORY
UBS
WEDBUSH
WELLS FARGO
WILLIAM BLAIR
Rating abbreviations…
***OP = Outperform
***SP = Sector Perform
***UP = Underperform
***OW = Overweight
***EW = Equal-weight
***UW = Underweight
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What’s on Tap Weekly Calendar
Monday May 11th
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Tuesday May 12th
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Wednesday May 13th
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Thursday May 14th
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Friday May 15th
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