• Charles Schwab’s STAX trading activity index rose to 55.08 in May from 50.10 in April, signaling higher retail risk-taking.
• Clients were net buyers of equities as major indexes hit new highs, while diversified ETFs stayed popular, pointing to continued caution.
• Options use increased to gain exposure to rallying tech; put selling accelerated as investors sought better entry points.
• Macro backdrop featured nearly 27% first-quarter S&P 500 earnings growth; CME FedWatch showed about a 50% chance of a hike later this year.
• Information technology led net buying; communication services led net selling; Generation X posted the highest STAX reading, Generation Z the lowest.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. The Charles Schwab Corporation published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20260608417388) on June 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.