Summer Spend

May 26, 2026

  Equity markets rose heading into the Memorial Day weekend, helped by continued earnings strength and a modest retreat in bond yields. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Utility, Health Care, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the …

Pan-Pacific Pragmatism

May 18, 2026

  The U.S. – China Summit pointed to trade stabilization between the two countries, but higher energy prices kept a lid on market advances last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -0.3%. The Energy, Consumer Staples, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 …

Modulating

May 11, 2026

  Rising earnings, decreasing geopolitical tensions, and healthy job growth pushed equities higher for the sixth consecutive week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.2%, and the NASDAQ +5.5%. The Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, …

The Earnings Strike Back

May 4, 2026

  Strength in quarterly earnings reports pushed stocks higher. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.5%, and the NASDAQ +1.5%. The Communication Services, Energy, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Materials, Technology, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury …

Earnings Run

April 27, 2026

  The S&P 500 Index closed at a record high last week as positive earnings reports have taken investor focus off events in the Middle East. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.4%, and the NASDAQ +2.4%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 …

Higher

April 20, 2026

  Equities rose to new highs on the back of positive news in the Middle East. That may be tested this week as the conflict remains unsettled heading into the expiration of the two-week ceasefire. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +4.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ +6.2%. The Technology, …

Choppy Waters

April 13, 2026

  Equities rose sharply last week on the U.S. – Iran ceasefire announcement, but unsuccessful talks in Pakistan over the weekend bring back uncertainty. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +3.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.1%, and the NASDAQ +4.5%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index …

Deal or No Deal

April 6, 2026

  Equities stemmed their five-week decline last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +3.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.0%, and the NASDAQ +4.0%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Consumer Staples, and Utility sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury …

A Duller Quarter

March 30, 2026

  Equities declined for a fifth consecutive week as military action in the Middle East and higher energy prices continue to weigh on investor sentiment.  For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.9%, and the NASDAQ -3.2%. The Energy, Materials, and Utility sectors led the S&P 500 Index for …

Pumped Up

March 23, 2026

  Equities declined for a fourth consecutive week as military action in the Middle East has pushed energy prices higher.  For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.1%, and the NASDAQ -2.0%. The Energy, Financials, and Communication Services sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the …

Three Weaks

March 16, 2026

  Equities declined for a third consecutive week.  For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.9%, and the NASDAQ -1.0%. The Energy, Utilities, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note …

Still Running

March 9, 2026

  Continued conflict in the Middle East and a weak labor market report pushed equities lower last week.  For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.9%, and the NASDAQ -1.2%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Materials, Consumer …

Trade Offs

February 23, 2026

  Equity markets rose on Friday to close higher for the week following the Supreme Court decision to overturn the Trump Administration’s use of unilateral emergency tariffs. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.3%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Communication Services, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the …

Couldn’t Stick the Landing

February 17, 2026

  Despite upbeat economic and corporate earnings news, stocks fell for a second consecutive week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.2%, and the NASDAQ -1.3%. The Utility, Real Estate, and Materials sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financials, Communication Services, and Consumer …

Fickle Investor Sentiment

February 9, 2026

  Concerns over large AI-related capital expenditure announcements rattled technology stocks. This pressured the NASDAQ, whereas the Dow Jones Industrial Average eclipsed 50,000 for the first time in its history. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.5%, and the NASDAQ -1.9%. The Consumer Staples, Industrial, and Energy sectors …

Digging Out

January 26, 2026

  Geopolitical tensions around Greenland improved last week after some high-profile meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos. A choppy week left stocks mixed with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials lower and the NASDAQ higher. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.5%, and the NASDAQ …

Mixed Signals

January 20, 2026

  A positive fundamental outlook for stocks risks being blunted by geopolitical concerns. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.3%, and the NASDAQ -0.9%. The Real Estate, Consumer Staples, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financials, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors …

Opening Moves

January 5, 2026

  Stocks posted a positive return on 2026’s first trading day, but a negative return for the week. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.7%, and the NASDAQ -1.7%. The Energy, Utilities, and Industrial sectors all had positive returns and led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while …

Last Call

December 29, 2025

  Stocks head into the final week of trading with double-digit gains for the year. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4 %, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Materials, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and Health …

Christmas Market

December 22, 2025

  Stocks finished mixed again last week. The S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.6%, and the NASDAQ +0.6%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield was …

Mixed

December 15, 2025

  The Federal Reserve followed-through and provided an interest rate cut but concerns over the AI trade left markets mixed last week. The S&P 500 Index finished last week -0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.1%, and the NASDAQ -1.9%. The Materials, Financials and Industrials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Communication Services, Technology, …

Hope for Holiday Easing

December 8, 2025

  Confidence in an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting this week continued to carry stocks. The S&P 500 Index finished last week +0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +1.0%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Utility, Health Care, and …

What’s in Store

December 1, 2025

  A continued shift in expectations toward a Federal Reserve rate cut at its December meeting supported upside in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ 4.9%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Energy, …

No Cents

November 17, 2025

  Equity markets were mixed last week with value-focused stocks outperforming growth-focused stocks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.4%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The Health Care, Energy, and Materials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …

Time to Reopen

November 10, 2025

  Uncertainty about the economy due to the government shutdown and profit taking in the technology sector caused a decline in stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.2%, and the NASDAQ -3.1%. The Energy, Health Care, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index, …

Still Reserved

November 3, 2025

  The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, the U.S. and China made progress on trade and tariffs, and earnings were generally upbeat from several technology companies. This all led to higher equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.8, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, …

Restless Calm

October 20, 2025

  A continued U.S. government shutdown kept investors in the dark on economic data last week and potential weakness in some areas of the credit market raised the concern over potential contagion. Still, for the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.6%, and the NASDAQ +2.5%. The Communication Services, Real …

Flare Up

October 13, 2025

  A flare up in U.S. – China trade led to a sharp decline into Friday’s close. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.7%, and the NASDAQ -2.3%. The Utility, Consumer Staples, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Consumer …

Shutdown Drama

September 29, 2025

  Stocks took a break from the recent rally. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -0.5%. The Energy, Utility, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Communication Services, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …