Market Week: May 4, 2026
The Markets (as of market close May 1, 2026)
Wall Street continued to rally with equities ending last week on a strong note. The S&P 500 and the
NASDAQ closed at record highs, driven by robust corporate earnings, a potential end to the U.S. military
involvement in Iran, and easing crude oil prices. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted notable gains as stocks maintained momentum following their strongest monthly performance in years. Last week capped a solid week of corporate earnings. With over two-fifths of the S&P 500 companies reporting, 83% beat earnings expectations and 78% exceeded revenue forecasts. Market sectors were led by communication services, energy, information technology, and consumer discretionary. Materials,
industrials, and health care lagged.
Market Week: April 27, 2026
The Markets (as of market close April 24, 2026)
Stocks continued to rally for the most part last week, fueled by cautious investor optimism that U.S. involvement in the Middle East may be nearing an end. In addition, cooler inflation data (see below) along with the start of what is hoped to be a resilient earnings season also contributed to the rally. A resurgence in mega-cap tech shares helped push the NASDAQ to a 10-day winning streak, its longest in several years. The S&P 500 finished just shy of its January record high. The Dow and the Global Dow each ticked lower, while the small caps of the Russell 2000 edged higher. Information technology, energy, and consumer staples led the market sectors, while health care and financials lagged. Gold and silver prices slipped as oil prices and the dollar gained strength.
Market Week: April 20, 2026
The Markets (as of market close April 17, 2026)
Stocks surged last week with the easing of geopolitical tensions that had weighed on equities for weeks. The S&P 500 crossed the 7,000 point barrier, while the NASDAQ achieved its longest winning streak (12 straight sessions) since 1992. Investor optimism was fueled by the ceasefire announced last week and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Large-cap stocks enjoyed a strong performance. Along with the S&P 500 reaching a record high last week, the Dow jumped more than 800 points on Friday alone. Demand for AI and tech shares was also reignited following a period of investor trepidation. Among the market sectors, information technology climbed nearly 8.5%, followed by consumer discretionary and communication services. Utilities, energy, and consumer staples lagged. Crude oil prices fell nearly $13.00 per barrel, or more than 13.0%, by the end of last week, hitting a five-week low. Gold and silver prices remained stable but saw some profit taking as investors rotated back to equities.
Market Week: April 13, 2026
The Markets (as of market close April 10, 2026)
The U.S. stock market enjoyed a second straight rally last week as geopolitical tensions shifted, at least
temporarily, from escalation to diplomacy. After a period of high volatility and risk aversion, investors were encouraged by the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the week with gains, while 10 of the 11 market sectors climbed, with the exception of energy. Information technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary outperformed. Crude oil prices, which touched $112 per barrel earlier in the week, fell sharply following the aforementioned ceasefire. Economic data released last week was mixed. The third estimate of gross domestic product was revised down 0.2 percentage point from the second estimate (see below). The monthly government deficit widened and inflationary pressures remained sticky, although consumer spending ticked up. Treasury yields ended the week about where they started, with the yield on 10-year Treasuries rising at the end of last week.
Market Week: April 6, 2026
The Markets (as of market close April 2, 2026)
The U.S. stock market was closed last week on Good Friday. Wall Street enjoyed a tech-led rally despite the escalation of the conflict with Iran and a pivot in fiscal policy following President Trump’s request that Congress approve a $1.5 trillion total defense budget for 2026, funded, in part, by a 22.6% cut in domestic discretionary programs. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid gains last week on a better-than-expected jobs report and a surge in AI and tech shares. Among the market sectors, information technology and communication services stood out, while energy fell despite high crude oil prices. Gold continued its historic run as a hedge against Middle East instability and potential stagflation.
Market Week: March 30, 2026
The Markets (as of market close March 27, 2026)
Wall Street saw stocks continue to trend lower last week, influenced by geopolitical tension, volatile energy markets, and shifting investor sentiment. The Dow, the S&P 500, and the NASDAQ each closed the week lower, while the small caps of the Russell 2000 and the Global Dow settled marginally higher. Investors reacted to developments surrounding the U.S.-Iran negotiations and the temporary halt in U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The S&P 500 marked its fifth straight weekly decline, its longest such streak since early 2022. With last week’s losses, the NASDAQ slid deeper into correction territory. Energy and materials outperformed, while communication services and information technology notably lagged. Oil prices swung sharply, while economic data showed resilience but rising uncertainty.
Market Week: March 23th, 2026
The Markets (as of market close March 20, 2026)
Stocks fell sharply last week, with each of the benchmark indexes posting declines as rising energy prices, tensions in the Middle East, and renewed stagflation fears dampened risk sentiment. The S&P 500 fell to a four-month low, while underperforming tech stocks impacted the NASDAQ. A higher-than-expected Producer Price Index (see below) and hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve pushed the yield on 10-year Treasuries to its highest level since July 2025, which also weighed on long-duration tech and growth stocks. Of the 11 market sectors, only energy closed higher. Among the most underperforming were materials, utilities, and consumer staples. Gold prices continued to recede, falling to a two-month low, affected by rising inflation concerns and expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates.
Market Week: March 16th, 2026
The Markets (as of market close March 13, 2026)
Wall Street saw a third straight week of losses as rising oil prices sparked inflation fears. Each of the
benchmark indexes listed here declined as investors moved away from risk. Last week was marked by
intensifying geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. The week began on a high note, with markets pushing past early losses to finish in the black. However, persistent concerns about crude oil supplies and surging prices, plus disappointing economic data, pulled stocks to their lowest levels this year. Crude oil prices remained well above $98.00 per barrel, up over 70% for the year. The majority of market sectors closed last week with losses, led by financials and consumer discretionary. Energy, consumer staples, and utilities ended the week higher. Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year note reaching its highest level since January after gaining 15 basis points.
Market Week: March 9th, 2026
The Markets (as of market close March 6, 2026)
Stocks ended last week sharply lower, impacted by renewed inflation and geopolitical events. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended the week lower, while crude oil prices surged to the highest levels since August 2022, as intensifying tensions in the Middle East disrupted global energy trade. Higher energy costs triggered a move from risk, with industrials, consumer staples, and materials being hit the hardest. Surging oil prices also spiked inflation fears, while the labor sector continued to lag (see below). With last week’s decline, the Dow, the S&P 500, and the NASDAQ each retreated to year-to-date lows.
Market Week: March 2, 2026
The Markets (as of market close February 27, 2026)
The last week of the month proved to be a tough one for Wall Street. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the week lower, impacted by stubborn inflation and a cooling of major tech and AI stocks. The Producer Price Index rose faster than in the previous two months (see below), which fueled fears that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at their current level for longer than investors hoped. Geopolitical risks provided a backdrop of uncertainty. U.S.-Iran tensions escalated, which directly impacted crude oil prices. Financials and information technology were laggards among the market sectors, while defensive sectors, such as consumer staples, utilities, and health care, outperformed.