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The Weekly Update

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

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 stock markets, rose 1.92 percent.

AI Disruption Fears
Big tech started last week back in the driver’s seat, leading the Nasdaq and S&P 500 to modest gains as investors appeared cautiously optimistic about the economy and Q4 corporate reports.

Stocks slid modestly on Tuesday after December retail sales were flat, sparking some anxiety about the economy. Investors also fretted about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on financial stocks.

A stronger-than-expected jobs report initially sparked a rally midweek, but momentum quickly faded as investors dug deeper into …

The Weekly Update

Week of February 9th, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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 Industrial Average rose 2.50 percent. By contrast, the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.49 percent.

Dow 50,000

Stocks bounded out of the gate on Monday with the Dow leading a broad rise across all three major averages. Markets rose in anticipation of a big week for Q4 corporate reports.

Market sentiment quickly changed on Tuesday as anxious investors appeared to rotate out of technology names and into cyclical areas of the economy more likely to rebound with an improving economy.

News on …

The Weekly Update

Week of February 2nd, 2026
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

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 tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 1.22 percent.

S&P 500 Touches 7,000
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq advanced early in the week as investors looked ahead to the Fed meeting and corporate results from several large companies.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady, as widely expected. Market reaction was muted, with all three major averages little changed by the close. Disappointing earnings results from one megacap tech firm, announced after the market closed on Wednesday, unsettled investors and dragged the Nasdaq …

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 …

The Weekly Update

Week of December 29th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks delivered for investors last week as positive economic data and bullish holiday cheer powered the start of a “Santa Claus rally” past consumer bah humbug sentiment.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.40 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.22 percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.20 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, moved ahead 1.16 percent.

AI Stock Sleigh Delivers
Stocks rallied at the start of the week, riding pre-holiday momentum as artificial intelligence (AI) related technology names continued to drive gains.

Fresh data out Tuesday initially quashed market momentum, reflecting investor concern that the stronger-than-expected Q3 economic growth might dissuade the Fed from adjusting interest rates in 2026.

But those fears appeared to subside after a Fed official said the U.S. is “way behind the curve in terms of lowering …

The Weekly Update

Week of December 22nd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted a slight gain last week as mixed jobs data triggered some selling pressure before a cooling inflation report helped stocks recover.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index inched ahead 0.10 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.48 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.67 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.21 percent.

Round Trip for Stocks
A mixed jobs report on Tuesday created some concerns about the economy, leading the S&P 500 and Dow Industrials to modest declines. However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq posted a modest gain.

Stocks continued their retreat on Wednesday with a handful of AI-related names leading the decline.

Markets then staged a rebound as a fresh inflation report came in cooler than expected for November, raising investor hopes that interest rates may trend lower. The S&P 500 and Dow …

The Weekly Update

Week of December 15th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks ended last week mixed. A widely anticipated Federal Reserve decision on interest rates and a rotation into non-tech areas helped push the Dow Industrials higher, while the broader market and technology stocks lagged.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.63 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 1.62 percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.05 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.89 percent.

Market Rotation After Fed Decision
Stocks stayed in a fairly tight trading range over the first half of the week. Tech remained a strong spot on Monday despite slight to modest declines in all three major averages.

By Tuesday’s close, all three major averages were slightly to modestly lower week-to-date as the Fed’s last interest-rate-setting meeting of the year approached.

Then, on Wednesday morning, stocks rose ahead of the …