Monthly Archives: January 2026

The Weekly Update

Week of January 26th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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 contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.91 percent.

Tariff Talk
Stocks opened lower on Tuesday after the White House threatened fresh tariffs on EU nations following an international debate over Greenland.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq slid more than 2 percent, while the Dow Industrials also came under pressure.

Markets rebounded on Wednesday after assurances that the U.S. would adopt a more diplomatic approach toward Greenland. By the close of trading, the White House also walked back its tariff threats and …

The Weekly Update

Week of January 19th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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 overseas stock markets, rose 1.41 percent.

Choppy Trading
Stocks started the week lower after pre-opening bell news that the Justice Department had launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. A statement issued Tuesday morning by central bankers worldwide helped tamp down market volatility.

The White House called for a 10 percent cap on credit card interest rates for 1 year, putting pressure on financial stocks. Meanwhile, news that headline inflation matched forecasts while core inflation came in cooler than expected was well received …

The Weekly Update

Week of January 12th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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 1.41 percent.

Santa Visits Dow, But Not S&P, Nasdaq
Stocks rose early Monday, led by the Dow Industrials, as investors looked past the news from Venezuela.

By Monday’s close, the Dow Industrials had gained enough to make the “Santa Claus Rally” a reality, pushing the Average to a 1.1 percent gain for the seven-session period (the last five trading days of 2025 and the first two of 2026). However, the S&P and Nasdaq came up short.

All three major averages continued their rise through midweek as the …

The Weekly Update

Week of January 5th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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, ticked up 0.31 percent.

Santa Rally, Interrupted
Stocks opened lower to start the shortened holiday week with tech shares under pressure. Markets then moved sideways but came under pressure after minutes from the December Federal Reserve meeting were released. Investors digested the details, which showed members remained divided.

Stocks recovered some ground on the first trading day of 2026. The tech sector was mixed, with AI chip stocks pushing higher, while other areas of technology, especially software companies, declined. Overall, the S&P 500 and Dow Industrials …