NASDAQ:WEBL 21 May 2026 - 24 May 2026

July 9, 2026, 4:46 AM EDT. U.S. small-cap stocks booked a 22% gain in the first half, their strongest H1 run since 1991, said Charlie Bilello, Chief Market Strategist at Creative Planning. The Russell 2000 Index finished up more than 22%, ahead of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq by over 12%. All 11 sectors in the Russell 2000 were positive, with technology out front, according to Franklin Templeton. Small and micro-caps pushed forward in Q2 2026, even as markets watched inflation and geopolitical news. Analysts point to valuations and earnings as still driving small-cap strength. ETFs such as SPY, QQQ, DIA, and IWM traded higher on the day with sentiment staying mixed.