Dow Hits 52,000 as Spain’s Ibex 35 Explodes Past 19,800 – Global Stocks on Fire
Stock markets around the world are smashing records. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 52,000 for the first time, while Spain’s Ibex 35 hit an all-time high near 20,000 points, as a broad rally across the U.S., Europe, and Asia fuels investor euphoria.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 52,000 for the first time on Monday, driven by a strong start for technology stocks led by Alphabet, Google’s parent company [185360]. The blue-chip index closed at a new record high, capping Wall Street’s strongest three-month period in six years [186677]. The S&P 500 surged 15% in the second quarter, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 21% [186677]. The milestone followed a previous record close where the Dow climbed more than 300 points, boosted by a nearly 5% jump in Alphabet [185297].
In Europe, Spain’s main stock index, the Ibex 35, closed at a new all-time high on Friday, rising 0.92% to end above 19,800 points [188406]. The index, which tracks the 35 largest publicly traded companies in Spain, reached 19,845 points and gained 2.2% for the week, bringing its total increase since the start of the year to 14.7% [188406]. Steel companies led the gains, with ArcelorMittal jumping 6.05% and Acerinox rising 3.23%, both boosted by a new European Union tariff of 50% on steel imports [188406].
European stocks overall rose to an all-time high on Friday, putting the market on track for its best week since May, as recent fears about the artificial-intelligence trade eased [188034]. The dollar fell to a two-week low, while gold extended its rally [188034].
Meanwhile, foreign investors purchased a record $60 billion worth of Japanese stocks in the first half of this year, the highest amount ever recorded for a six-month period [187358]. Analysts say the weak yen has made Japanese stocks cheaper for overseas buyers, and the influx of foreign cash has helped push Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, to near 30-year highs [187358].
The biotech stock rally that started in April 2025 has also gained speed as the year reaches its midpoint, with investors continuing to pour money into the sector [188128]. Analysts point to improved funding conditions and promising drug trial results as key drivers [188128].