Monthly Archives: August 2026

The Weekly Update

Week of August 31st, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks rebounded last week as falling bond yields and upbeat AI-related corporate reports rekindled positive market sentiment despite the Fed Chair’s slightly hawkish speech.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.49 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.85 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.53 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.17 percent.

An Active News Week
Chip stocks fell as the week kicked off, dragging down the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Reports that the Treasury Department may buy back its own bonds helped drive yields lower.

Midweek, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Report, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, came in a little hotter than expected. However, core PCE, which excludes food and energy, was in line with forecasts.

Market sentiment got a lift on Thursday as investors cheered upbeat Q2 corporate reports. …

The Weekly Update

Week of August 24th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks declined last week as global investors fretted about oil-supply-induced inflation.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 2.05 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.85 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.40 percent.

Bond Yields Up, Stocks Under Pressure
Bond yields spiked at the start of the week, putting a squeeze on stock prices. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond hit a 19-year high.

Markets continued their slide on Tuesday as investors fretted over inflation. Yields on bonds around the world rose to multi-decade highs.

Stocks steadied, and bond yields fell midweek as investors responded to the Treasury Department’s announcement that it would buy back long-term debt to help stabilize interest rates. However, the Wednesday morning rally petered out as the session progressed into the …

The Weekly Update

Week of August 17th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed over a sleepy summer week, as cooling inflation lifted markets while sluggish retail sales nipped at investor sentiment.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 0.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.56 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, advanced 0.26 percent.

Third Straight for S&P 500
Stocks began the week with mild declines, with megacap tech names under pressure as investors anxiously awaited inflation updates.

But spirits lifted midweek as a July inflation report showed consumer prices increased at a slower pace, leading investors to hope the Fed would not adjust rates at its next meeting.

The AI trade also jumped back into the driver’s seat to add momentum. The rebound rally extended into Thursday as investors cheered a cooler-than-expected report that showed …

The Weekly Update

Week of August 10, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks bolted ahead last week as investors cheered the last big week of Q2 corporate reports and a Friday jobs update that put the spotlight on the Fed’s next move with short-term rates.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 3.57 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 5.19 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 2.32 percent.

Best Week in Nearly 4 Months
Stocks opened the week strong as oil prices slid on news of diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Big Tech led, which helped push the Dow Industrials to a record close.

Investor optimism continued to build on Tuesday as stocks opened higher and climbed throughout the day. Strong Q2 corporate reports added fuel to the rally, lifting all three averages into a second day …

The Weekly Update

Week of August 3rd, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks pushed through another volatile summer week as diverging Q2 corporate reports and the Fed’s rate decision whipsawed prices.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.05 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.59 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.04 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 2.13 percent.

Tech Stocks Steal Spotlight
Chip stocks were under pressure at the start of the week as investors fretted over fresh competition from China and higher-than-expected AI capital expenditures. But the Dow pushed higher as oil prices slid and investors rotated out of technology.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve said it was holding interest rates steady, a move that was initially well received by markets. But as the day progressed, selling picked up as investors expressed concern that the Fed was not doing enough to …