by Shauna Newton | May 11, 2026 | Market Commentary
Author: Davis Finke, CFA Markets remain highly sensitive to headline risk surrounding the Iran conflict, with sentiment continuing to swing as developments unfold. But despite that volatility, equities pushed to new record highs on Friday, underscoring how supportive...
by Davis Finke | May 1, 2026 | Market Commentary
Author: Davis Finke, CFA This week, corporate earnings were front and center, with 180 S&P 500 companies reporting results. Overall, earnings have been impressive, with 84% of companies beating expectations. As a result, first-quarter earnings growth for the index...
by Shauna Newton | Apr 24, 2026 | Market Commentary
Author: Davis Finke, CFA This week, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new record highs, suggesting investors are reassessing the potential impact of the conflict in Iran on the U.S. economy. With the ceasefire extended, near-term geopolitical risks have eased. While...
by Shauna Newton | Apr 7, 2026 | Market Commentary
Author: Davis Finke, CFA After beginning 2026 with two consecutive months of positive returns, the U.S. stock market ended the first quarter with its weakest quarterly performance since 2022. Since the onset of the Iran conflict on March 7, the S&P 500 has...
by Shauna Newton | Jan 8, 2026 | Market Commentary
Author: Davis Finke, CFA U.S. equities demonstrated resilience into year-end, with the S&P 500 closing 2025 at a 16.39% total return, the third consecutive year of double-digit gains and just short of an all-time high. Performance was led by communication services...
by Shauna Newton | Sep 30, 2025 | Market Commentary
Davis Finke, CFA The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in September for the first time since December 2024, lowering the federal funds rate from 4.25%–4.50% to 4.00%–4.25%. This decision marks a notable shift in policy as the Fed balances its dual mandate: promoting...
