Keeping You Informed 

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

It has now been more than three-and-a-half years since the bull market began in October 2022. At that time, inflation was rising at its fastest pace in fifty years, the Fed was hiking interest rates, and ChatGPT was still a month away from being released to the public. Since then, the S&P 500 has more than doubled in value and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond index has fully recovered.

Housing activity has been mixed in recent years across a number of measures. For new buyers, the biggest challenge with affordability is mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is around 6.3%, well above the lows of 3% or less in 2020 and 2021, and the average of 4.6% since 2008. This means that the monthly cost of purchasing a home is significantly higher than it was just a few years ago, even for buyers with substantial down payments.

One of the most consistent lessons from financial history is that markets have a way of surprising investors. They can often rebound exactly when investors are the most pessimistic, and this year is a great example. A common question is: Should I stay invested?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The reality is that geopolitical conflicts tend to affect financial markets through energy prices, which directly impact fuel costs and can then ripple through the economy. How much this affects prices depends on how long energy costs stay high. Understanding these transmission mechanisms can help investors maintain perspective. In particular, inflation, the job market, and corporate earnings, can provide useful insights in today’s market environment.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The immediate reaction to the ceasefire in Iran has been a jump in the stock market and a significant drop in oil prices. This is positive, especially from a humanitarian perspective. The two-week ceasefire recently announced between the U.S. and Iran, with a key focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supply, is an important development for investors. Energy prices and inflation concerns continue to be top of mind.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

Why are gasoline prices rising so rapidly, and how is the conflict in Iran influencing what Americans pay at the pump? How much more are households spending on fuel, and who feels the greatest financial strain? How do higher energy costs ripple through the broader economy, raising prices for goods and services and add pressure to inflation?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

🔎 Market Insight: Why Sector Balance Matters in 2026 This year’s market has seen a 40%+ performance gap between the best and worst S&P 500 sectors—driven by Middle East tensions, rising oil prices, and shifting AI expectations. Energy is surging on geopolitical risk, while defensive sectors like Utilities and Consumer Staples are helping steady portfolios. At the same time, questions around AI’s impact on traditional software have led investors to broaden their focus beyond tech. The takeaway: Sector leadership changes fast. A well‑diversified portfolio—spanning growth, cyclical, and defensive sectors—remains the strongest way to navigate volatility and stay aligned with long‑term goals.

Markets that lack a clear direction can feel uncomfortable. In times like these, maintaining a level-headed perspective is critical when there is so much negativity in the news. It’s more important than ever to not lose sight of long-term goals, especially because saving and investing properly are still the best ways to grow wealth over time. What should investors keep in mind as uncertainty continues?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The ongoing conflict in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have pushed oil prices sharply higher. Both Brent crude and WTI have jumped from around $70 per barrel to around $100 in just a few days, approaching levels last seen in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. This has driven significant uncertainty across global markets, with headlines mentioning a “global economic downturn,” “stagflation,” and more. How $100 Oil and the Middle East Conflict Impacts Investors?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said that "plans are worthless, but planning is everything." Applied to today, the lesson is that specific geopolitical events are unpredictable, but the fact that they occur regularly is not. The process of structuring a portfolio and making financial plans is designed precisely to deal with this uncertainty. While each event is unique, financial markets have navigated countless wars, crises, and regional conflicts, including the U.S. operation in Venezuela earlier this year. What should investors keep in mind as events unfold in Venezuela, Iran and other nations the coming weeks?