Market Commentary, May 1, 2026

Dramatic Recovery The S&P 500 Index shed 9.1% from its late January all-time high to its March 30th low, just shy of an official 10% correction. The index of 500 large publicly traded companies lost a more modest 7.8% of its value when gauged from the start of the...

Market Commentary, April 27, 2026

Retail Sales Surge on Higher Gasoline Prices It is no surprise that retail sales surged last month—but not for the reason investors typically want to see. The U.S. Census Bureau reported a 1.7% increase in March retail sales, driven largely by a 15.5% jump at gasoline...

Market Commentary, April 13, 2026

Inflation Heats Up as Gasoline Prices Surge Led by a 10.9% rise in energy, including a 21% rise in gasoline, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9% in March, the highest in almost four years. On an annual basis, prices...

Market Commentary, Q1 2026

Iran War: Oil Prices Jump as Markets Weigh the Risks The fragile peace between the United States and Iran was shattered at the end of February when the US and Israel launched an attack on key Iranian military targets and the nation’s leadership. Thus far, the market’s...

Market Commentary, March 30, 2026

California’s Delicate Energy Situation How long the war might last is not clear, but its effects are being felt in global energy markets. Oil moves easily across borders, which means supply disruptions quickly lead to higher gasoline prices. However, it is harder to...