Weekly Market Commentary April 13, 2026 The Markets Sunny with a chance of rain. Last week, news of a two-week pause in the Middle East conflict was like a sunny day. Investors celebrated and the relief rally lifted U.S. stocks higher. “The cease-fire announced on Tuesday led to the best day for the stock market in almost exactly a year,” reported Avi Salzman of Barron’s. On Friday, though, some c...
Weekly Market Commentary April 06, 2026 The Markets The first three months of 2026 felt a bit like summer school. In summer school, students learn a lot in a short amount of time. A normal semester gives students about 15 to 17 weeks to learn, but summer classes cram all that information into 6 to 8 weeks. The lessons move quickly and it can be hard to keep up. That’s what the markets felt like in...
Weekly Market Commentary March 30, 2026 The Markets U.S. stocks moved lower last week. The journey toward long-term financial goals is often interrupted by unexpected events that create stress and uncertainty. That’s one reason financial plans are built with a keen eye to risk tolerance. When disruptive events occur and financial markets lose value, even the most experienced investors have questio...
Weekly Market Commentary March 23, 2026 The Markets The interest rate outlook shifted. Last week, central banks around the globe met to set policy rates. While most chose to leave rates unchanged, many expressed concern about the potential economic consequences of the War in Iran, reported Holly Ellyatt of CNBC. “Central bankers in Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan opted to stay on the sidelines, as did...
Weekly Market Commentary March 16, 2026 The Markets Stagflation worries rise. Over the past couple of weeks, the term stagflation has been popping up a lot. The United States experienced stagflation, which is a combination of high inflation, slow economic growth, and high unemployment, during the 1970s. The possibility of another round of stagflation is concerning because it’s difficult to fix, ex...
Weekly Market Commentary March 09, 2026 The Markets Energy disruptions, rising prices, and a weak jobs report cloud the economic outlook. It would take a lot more space than we have here to discuss everything that happened last week and the many ways these events may affect financial markets and the economy. So, we are going to focus on energy, inflation, and employment. Energy: Strait to a stands...
Weekly Market Commentary March 02, 2026 The Markets Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the new Industrial Revolution. Last week, market volatility reflected uncertainty about how artificial intelligence will reshape the economy. Early in the week, a report titled “The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis” alarmed investors by describing a hypothetical future where artificial intelligence tools greatly imp...
Weekly Market Commentary February 23, 2026 The Markets When it rains it pours. People respond in different ways when they’re caught in a downpour without an umbrella or rain gear. Some walk as they seek shelter, others run. Occasionally, on warm days, people may celebrate the storm by dancing in the rain or stomping puddles. Last week, investors responded to a deluge of news and data in a variety...
Weekly Market Commentary February 17, 2026 The Markets AI is reshaping the world – and markets are jittery. Last week, investor attitudes continued to shift. Instead of celebrating AI as a growth engine, they focused on its potential as a business disruptor. The catalyst for this change was the introduction of AI tools that automate tasks in legal services, coding, financial research, and freight...
Weekly Market Commentary February 09, 2026 The Markets Investor mood matters. Over the past month, we’ve seen five sharp stock market declines – and five rebounds, reported Charles Riley of Bloomberg. He pointed out that market declines often go hand-in-hand with a change in the economic outlook, but that’s not the case this time. The economy appears to be doing reasonably well. The declines and r...