U.S. stocks reached new highs on May 15, 2024, due to anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts after a report indicated slower inflation in April.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank is not inclined to raise interest rates, offering reassurance to the markets.

Forecasts suggest the consumer price index for April may show a year-over-year increase of 3.4%, with consumer inflation and core inflation rates reflecting similar trends.

Asian and European markets showed mixed results, while the Canadian market experienced a slight decline, influenced by energy stocks.

Commodity prices varied, with gold rising and crude oil falling, as seen in the spot price of gold increasing and crude oil contracts dropping.

Several hedge funds and asset managers, including prominent universities' endowments and the state of Wisconsin's investment board, have invested heavily in bitcoin ETFs.

Approximately $29 billion has been invested into bitcoin ETFs since January, with retail investors and investment advisors being the primary purchasers.