Thoughts and insight on the latest retirement topics.
Weekly Update: March 23, 2026 | Markets Dizzied by Rapid Reports
Another volatile week unfolded as rapid developments in the Middle East and public comments from leaders on the conflict see-sawed markets, leaving investors struggling to keep up with updates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 1.89 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.07 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 2.11 percent. The…
Weekly Update: March 16, 2026 | Markets Weather Volatile Week
Stocks logged a third-straight down week as investors digested the latest news out of the Middle East, navigated more volatility, and mulled the latest economic data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.60 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1.26 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.99 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which…
Weekly Update: March 9, 2026 | Markets Weather New Middle East Conflict
Stocks fell last week as investors assessed the implications of a fresh Middle East conflict while digesting mixed reports on the jobs market. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.02 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 1.24 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 3.05 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed…
Weekly Update: March 2, 2026 | AI Report, Inflation Provoke Rocky Week
Stocks fell last week amid concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and a warmer-than-expected reading of wholesale inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.44 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.95 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 1.22 percent.1,2 AI…
Weekly Update: February 23, 2026 | Supreme Court Rules Against White House Tariffs
Stocks ended a choppy four-session run in the green, with tech-led momentum earlier in the week prevailing over news of a slowing economy, sticky inflation, and geopolitical tensions. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.07 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 1.51 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.25 percent. The…
Weekly Update: February 16, 2026 | AI Impact Concerns Grow on Wall Street
Stocks fell last week as investors reacted to mixed economic data and concerns over signs of broadening AI disruption of business models. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.39 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.10 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.23 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas…
Weekly Update: February 9, 2026 | Roller Coaster Week Leads Dow to Milestone
Stocks were mixed last week, with broad gains on Monday and Friday bookending midweek selling pressure as investors digested earnings results from more than 100 S&P 500 companies. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ended the week roughly where it started, slipping 0.10 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 1.84 percent. The Dow Jones…
Weekly Update: February 2, 2026 | Kevin Warsh Nominated to Fed Chair
Stocks were mixed last week as investors navigated Q4 corporate results, a widely expected Fed decision, and a handful of economic reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.34 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0.17 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.42 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which…
Weekly Update: January 26, 2026 | Markets Await Q4 Reports
Markets ended a short but eventful week slightly lower amid geopolitical tensions and fresh tariff threats. However, constructive economic news appeared to buoy spirits as the week progressed. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.35 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index was flat (-0.06 percent). The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.53 percent. By…
Weekly Update: January 19, 2026 | Powell Keeps Cool in the Hot Seat
Stocks ended last week with modest losses after a volatile five days of market-moving economic data, geopolitics, and Fed drama. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.38 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index skidded 0.66 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.29 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed…
Weekly Update: January 12, 2026 | Santa Brings Joy for the DJIA
Stocks posted solid gains in an action-packed week of market-moving economic data, geopolitical news, and bullish new year sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.57 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.88 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.32 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced…
Weekly Update: January 5, 2026 | Santa Rally in Holding Pattern
Stocks trended lower last week amid signs of year-end profit-taking and some sour investor sentiment over the Fed meeting minutes. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.03 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1.52 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.67 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets,…