The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Aug. 19, edition that hopes for a soft economic landing are once again boosting U.S. stocks, as positive data ease recession concerns after a recent sell-off. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that the S&P 500 has bounced back more than 6 per cent since Aug. 5, when a sharp decline caused the major U.S. index to experience its largest three-day drop in over two years. A quick return to stability was also noticeable in the Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street's "fear gauge," which has rapidly decreased from last week's four-year highs. The positive data have strengthened the argument for investors interested in re-entering many of the trades that have been successful this year, such as buying Big Tech stocks or the more recent trend of investing in small and mid-cap companies, which gained momentum in July. Some of 2024's biggest winners have staged strong rebounds since Aug. 5. Nvidia has bounced more than 20 per cent, while the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index has gained more than 14 per cent. Small-cap shares, which had been strong performers in July, have also recovered from recent lows, with the Russell 2000 up nearly 5 per cent.