iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

IVV

Market cap $730B

The US stock market ended November on a softer footing than history would typically suggest, with the S&P 500 down by 0.6% over the month as of Friday.

As the S&P 500 mounts a successive recovery, historical data suggests that the index is likely to face bearish sentiment in 2026.

The iShares Russell 2500 ETF offers superior risk-adjusted returns and diversification compared to the popular Vanguard Extended Market ETF. SMMD trades at a lower P/E and P/B, provides a higher yield, and has less concentration risk and lower drawdowns than VXF. While VXF boasts lower fees and greater liquidity, its broader exposure includes more speculative micro-caps, increasing volatility and risk.

The S&P 500 rebounded to finish flat in November, with blue chips leading and tech lagging, while Health Care outperformed all sectors. Economic data shows rising unemployment but robust consumer spending, with inflation moderating near 2.5% and Q3 GDP growth estimated at 3.7%.

ETFs to watch as Wall Street turns upbeat, with bullish forecasts putting the S&P 500 on track for 8,000 by 2026.

US stocks edge higher on thin post-Thanksgiving volume, but November's losing streak looks set. Tech doubts weigh as indices snap months of gains.

US equity indices traded quietly in a shortened post-Thanksgiving session, with the NASDAQ 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 all holding firm near support levels. Short-term pullbacks are viewed as buying opportunities, with December seasonality expected to favor further upside.

Trading of futures and options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have been halted for several hours on Friday due to a data center glitch, disrupting trade across foreign exchange, bonds, equities and commodities trading. Bloomberg's Clara Ferreira Marques reports.

The commentary emphasizes continued bullish momentum in U.S. indices, with the NASDAQ 100, Dow Jones 30, and S&P 500 all pressing key resistance levels. Despite potential short-term pullbacks, the broader uptrends remain firmly intact.

The long US stock market rally may be on the verge of a shift, with earnings growth finally starting to spread beyond the tech giants that have carried the S&P 500 for the past three years, according to Deutsche Bank's 2026 outlook. The bank thinks the index could hit 8,000 by the end of 2026, delivering mid-teens returns from here.