Markets showed strength for a second straight week. Will equities continue to soar higher?
Monday
S&P 500 0.44% | NASDAQ 0.54%
Markets continued to gain ground following a strong showing last week. Temperatures cooled on the international front as talks about the conflict in Iran concluding were on the table. All major indexes climbed through the close.
Tuesday
S&P 500 0.08% | NASDAQ 0.10%
Indexes wavered on the day but finished positive following a U.S. imposed deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz. The closing on the Strait has been a point of contention since its closure almost 3 weeks ago. Markets leveled out on a possible Pakistan-brokered ceasefire.
Wednesday
S&P 500 2.51% | NASDAQ 2.80%
Following Tuesday night’s two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, markets skyrocketed. Although no fundamental conclusions financially can be drawn this early, market sentiment jumped on the news. Risk-on asset classes benefitted from flows while Oil futures fell almost 15%.
Thursday
S&P 500 0.62% | NASDAQ 0.83%
There was a shift back towards important economic data on Thursday, which was highlighted by jobless claims. Continuing jobless claims and the Federal Market Committee’s (FOMC) minutes from their March meeting were released yesterday. Members of the committee cautioned about the impact of AI on labor participation in the future.
Friday
S&P 500 0.11% | NASDAQ 0.35%
The DOW Jones fell on the day following its meteoric rise earlier this week as data on inflation dropped. The Consumer Price Index announcement put a damper on the Dow as March saw a spike in energy costs. Excluding the volatile energy category, however, core inflation was resilient last month.
Conclusion
S&P 500 3.56% | NASDAQ 4.68%
Markets saw no signs of retreat after U.S. economic data showed that the biggest risk to budgets revolves around energy. Jobs are a priority for Federal Reserve Policy and hiring was strong in March. AI development’s impact on hiring and retention remain unknown but will test the status quo moving forward. April is a historically strong jobs month for hiring ahead of an increase in seasonal activity. This will require the Federal Reserve to continue to balance inflation and the labor market as the year progresses. As it stands, a 2026 rate cut remains slim but can change if the labor market shows signs of cracking. If temperatures cool abroad, then the attention on jobs, productivity, and inflation will be top of mind, once again.
~ Your Future… Our Services… Together~
Your interest in our articles helps us reach more people. To show your appreciation for this post, please “like” the article on one of the links below:
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
If you would like to receive this weekly article and other timely information follow us, here.
Always remember that while this is a week in review, this does not trigger or relate to trading activity on your account with Financial Action, inc. Speak with your financial professional to get advice specific to your circumstances.
No part of this content is sponsored or endorsed, nor does it involve testimonials. The author and firm have disclosed all material conflicts of interest and compensation arrangements related to this content.
Any and all third-party posts or responses to this blog do not reflect the views of the firm and have not been reviewed by the firm for completeness or accuracy.