Russell 2000 Surges 20% First Half for Best Since 1991, Micron Falls 4.7%
MU•The Russell 2000 Index soared over 20% in H1 2026, its best opening half since 1991, with the S&P 500 up 9.6%. Micron Technology shares slid 4.7% during the rally that favored smaller-cap names.
1. H1 2026 Index Performance
Russell 2000 climbed over 20% through the first half of 2026, marking its strongest opening half since 1991, while the S&P 500 gained 9.6% over the same period.
2. Historical Third-Quarter Trends
In past years when the Russell 2000 led large caps in the first half, the third quarter showed average declines of 2.5% for the small-cap index and 1.5% for the S&P, though full second-half returns historically rebounded by 3.3% and 6.45% respectively.
3. Micron Technology Reaction
Micron Technology shares fell 4.7% as small-cap names surged, underperforming the broader index gains and trailing other notable sector movers.
