PremiumThe S&P 500 extended its winning streak to a 9th consecutive week, gaining +1.4% to close out a robust May (+5.0%) - and is off to a solid start for a 10th consecutive week of gains, a streak unmatched since 1985 - as investors continue to navigate a "wall of worry" including geopolitical tensions, private credit risks, AI-induced labor shifts/impact on the US consumer, concentration/breadth, incoming supply worries – buoyed by exceptional earnings growth.In this context, according to Goldman's Prime Brokerage, Hedge Funds raised their nets further, now in the highest 1-year percentile, while Long Onlys mostly kept a neutral skew on the week. But Institutional activity felt quieter than the moves would suggest, pointing to other flow drivers to justify the unabated bid to new all-time highs.
"Relentless Retail": Goldman Breaks Down The Latest Market Flows And Positioning
CTA (modest), Retail (relentlessly) and Corporates (buybacks in full swing) are acting as sponsors of equities, with little regard for concentration considerations, or valuations.
S&P 500 in 9-week rally (+5% May) toward unmatched 10th streak since 1985, hedge funds at 1-year peaks. Markets brush off geopolitical tensions, private credit risks, AI labor shifts, though muted institutional flow hints at other drivers behind the relentless bid.







