Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis It became clear last week that The Federal Reserve is caught between a rock and a hard place. The Fed, who have a dual mandate to maintain price stability and maximize employment, now face the difficult task of balancing stubborn inflation against signs of a weakening labor market. The latest twist? A sharp rise in oil prices, which will ripple through the economy if sustained. But it’s not all bad. During his press conference last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell did tout the U.S. economy and its resilience against uncertainties. The Fed even revised their growth outlook for 2026, signaling that despite inflation and a slow hire / slow fire job market,...
Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis A decisive week ahead for the market as investors await word from The Fed, who’s at a crossroads right now…having to stick to their dual mandate of promoting full employment and price stability during a time where geopolitical uncertainty is extremely high. The Dual Mandate: Lower interest rates can stimulate hiring and economic growth, but they also risk reigniting inflation.Higher rates help control inflation but can slow economic activity and weaken the labor market. These objectives often conflict, unfold over different timelines, and are further complicated by unpredictable global events such as pandemics, wars, and supply chain disruptions. Wars & Supply Chain Disruptions:Let’s be real…the war in Iran is somewhat of a...
Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis The stock market Fear & Greed index is sinking closer to the “extreme fear” side as geopolitical tensions escalate. The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran led to a historical spike in oil prices last week, if sustained at these prices, the economic impact could be detrimental. Why does oil matter so much?Without a consistent and predictable oil supply, fuel prices jump. Not just fuel for people to get to work, but fuel for planes, ships, cargo trucks…etc. This leads to inflation across the economy. With prices of goods and services already trending higher due to tariffs, this added layer of uncertainty holds a lot of weight. As oil prices...
Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis Over the weekend, the U.S. and Israel launched a strategic attack on Iran, targeting the country’s top military commanders, important insiders, and leaders. The U.S. and Iran held talks to have a peaceful resolution just last week, but Iran’s leadership pushed back on the demands of Israel and the United States, which included: Permanently end all uranium enrichment (this stops Iran from producing nuclear weapons) Accept strict limits on its ballistic missile program Completely halt support for regional proxy extremist groups These demands were presents as conditions for avoiding military action and as part of negotiations…when Iran pushed back, the U.S. didn’t hold back. The country’s multi-decade supreme leader was killed in...
Weekly Stock Market Update & SPY Technical Analysis This week will test the AI trade as Nvidia prepares to report its quarterly earnings and set the stage for its 2026 outlook. The $4.6 trillion company holds a large weight in the market, and its prolific impact on the advancement of AI makes them a critical name to pay attention to. Not only is the earnings data important, but the earnings call with the company’s CEO is crucial. His comments about AI, data centers, connectivity, and any form of advanced technology could provide signals to where capital will flow in the coming 3-12 months. Comments about partners will also matter, as the company’s partners could benefit from the rising tide of...
