This week, stocks extended their winning streak, setting fresh records almost daily. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow each closed at new all-time highs, and the rally showed signs of broadening, with small caps and the equal-weight index participating more than they had in recent weeks. p-weighted index and growth stocks are higher. Defensive sectors and energy lagged as the market rallied on diplomatic progress in the Middle East. Falling oil prices sent Treasury yields reversing lower after their recent climb, and the decline in interest rates offered relief to bonds.

This week, the pace of the rally slowed this week as markets reacted to a combination of headlines. Stocks traded lower early in the week as Treasury yields climbed to multi-decade highs, raising concerns about increased borrowing costs and pressuring stock market valuations. However, sentiment improved after reports of potential progress in negotiations with Iran pushed oil prices back below $100 per barrel and stabilized interest rates.

For this month’s chart of the month, we review planning questions for handling higher gas prices. The national average price of a gallon of gasoline has climbed above $4.50, up nearly 50% since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict in late February. The cause is a global disruption in oil supply. Approximately 20% of the world's oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route in the Middle East, and traffic remains significantly below pre-conflict levels.

This week, markets traded higher for a seventh consecutive week, extending the rally from late March. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq continued to set new all-time highs, but the rally remained narrow, with small-cap stocks and the equal-weight S&P 500 posting only modest gains. The week's defining story was inflation, with both consumer and producer prices rising at the fastest pace in years. Oil prices climbed as tensions in the Middle East re-escalated, and international stocks again underperformed U.S. stocks.

This week, markets traded higher for a sixth consecutive week, extending the rally that began in late March and pushing several major indexes to new highs. The top-performing sectors were technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services, all of which carry significant exposure to the largest companies in the market. The rally has been driven by a relatively narrow group of market leaders.

This month saw markets rebound sharply after ceasefire agreements between the U.S. and Iran and between Israel and Lebanon eased geopolitical fears and removed worst-case market scenarios. Major indexes surged to record highs, led by a powerful technology and semiconductor rally, while small-cap stocks also posted strong gains. Investor confidence improved across asset classes as credit spreads narrowed and volatility fell back to pre-conflict levels.

This week, markets moved higher for a fourth consecutive week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closing at fresh all-time highs for the second week in a row. The pace of the rally slowed, however, and the gains were uneven beneath the surface. Oil prices rose after two consecutive weeks of declines, and a measure of market volatility ticked up as investors responded to geopolitical developments during the week.

This week, markets absorbed a failed ceasefire deal and a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports to close at a new all-time high. The SP 500 gained nearly +3%, setting a new high as it extended an 11- session V-shaped recovery. The Nasdaq set a new high, gaining nearly 5%, as growth and tech stocks continued to trade higher. Measures of stock market and interest rate volatility continued to decline as risk premiums faded, and oil prices finished the week lower despite surging higher early in the week.

For this month’s chart of the month, we review how the stock market's best and worst days tend to arrive together, and the early months of 2026 offered a timely reminder. The S&P 500 fell nearly 10% from its late-January high through the end of March as the U.S.-Iran conflict sent oil prices surging by more than 60%. It is a well-documented pattern: trying to avoid the worst days often means missing the best days.

This week, stocks traded higher for a second consecutive week as de-escalation triggered the strongest single-day rally in a year. Most of the rally took place on Wednesday, after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Oil plunged 11%, the VIX dropped below 20, and international stocks rose as energy-importing nations benefited from the reversal in oil prices. However, the ceasefire was already being tested late in the week, with the market closely monitoring this weekend’s talks.

The first quarter was eventful for markets. Stocks traded higher to start the year, with the SP 500 posting a modest gain in January. However, the market traded lower in March due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which led to a spike in oil prices. The S&P 500 returned -4.3%, but despite the late-quarter volatility, there were bright spots. The average SP 500 stock outperformed the broad index by nearly +5% as market leadership broadened, and manufacturing data showed signs of improvement. In this post, we recap the key developments from Q1.

This week, market trading was influenced by ceasefire headlines this week. The S&P 500 rose early after the administration reported talks with Iran, then reversed to close down nearly -0.5% as Iran denied negotiations and the diplomatic window narrowed. Meanwhile, the market rotation from early 2026 resumed, with small caps, value stocks, and the equal-weight S&P 500 outperforming. Oil dropped nearly -10% on Monday's ceasefire headline before recovering to close the week down roughly - 5%.