The S&P 500 has reached its 45th all-time high this year, despite higher-than-expected US inflation data. This marks the ninth-most all-time highs for a calendar year, tying with 1997 and 2013. The Volatility Index (VIX) surged by 6.5% last week and remains above 20 points. Over the past two years, the S&P 500 has seen significant gains, with the cap-weighted index up by nearly 63% and the equal-weighted version up by 40.3%. Additionally, the S&P 500 locked in a fifth straight week of gains, setting a new record high. The S&P 500 Financials and Industrials sectors have also performed strongly.