March saw the S&P 500 hit fresh all-time highs, as it concluded its strongest first quarter since 2019.
March saw a 3.2% overall return for the S&P 500, driven by largely positive economic data. As investors’ emphasis has turned from worries about a U.S. economic crisis to the timing of the Federal Reserve’s transition from tightening to easing monetary policy, it is presently up 10.6% year-to-date in 2024.
As one of the best months of the year historically for the S&P 500, investors are hopeful the market can keep up its momentum in April. 

 First Quarter Market Recap

Along with significant increases for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq saw gains of 6.1% and 9.3% in the first quarter, respectively, due to the continuous surge in equities connected to artificial intelligence and dovish remarks made by Federal Reserve officials.

Leading the market gains in the first quarter were the technology, consumer defensive, and consumer cyclical sectors, all of which produced total returns of at least 8%. The real estate industry was the only one to end the quarter worse than the overall stock market rally.