S&P 500 Achieves Record Highs with 11% Second-Quarter Surge as July Trading Commences

The U.S. stock market has entered July 2025 on a strong note, with the S&P 500 index reaching new all-time highs, signaling a robust performance in the first half of the year. Financial commentator Ran Neuner highlighted this bullish trend, stating in a recent tweet that the S&P 500 "looks set for a green July." However, Neuner also cautioned that this positive market momentum might not extend to "all altcoins."

The S&P 500 concluded the second quarter of 2025 with an impressive 11% gain, marking its best quarterly performance since late 2023. This surge contributed to the index being up over 5% year-to-date, despite a notable rebound from an April downturn. On July 1st, the index experienced a slight dip of 0.1% after reaching a fresh all-time high on the previous trading day.

Historically, July has been a favorable month for the S&P 500, ranking as the fourth best month for performance since 1950, with an average gain of 1.3%. This historical context supports the expectation of a "green July" as suggested by market analysts. The strong close to June positions the market favorably for continued upward movement.

Despite the broad market strength, Ran Neuner's tweet underscores a potential divergence for cryptocurrencies, particularly altcoins. While the S&P 500 has seen significant gains, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has been observed lagging, and a "massive rotation" is reportedly underway beneath the market's surface. This suggests that not all asset classes or sectors will benefit equally from the current market environment.

Investors are closely monitoring several factors that could influence market breadth and the performance of various assets, including the impact of tariffs, which have seen the effective U.S. tariff rate climb to 13% from 3% at the start of the year. Additionally, the timing of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with futures indicating nearly three cuts expected by year-end, remains a key consideration. Neuner plans to host a live session to provide further insights on strategic positioning for July.