COMMENTARY: The S&P 500 finished the week essentially flat, returning just 0.13%, as a strong mid-week rally faded into Friday’s session. Markets were pulled in competing directions by several notable developments: oil prices surged amid continued disruptions to global energy supply linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, while a Trump-Xi summit in […]
Weekly Performance Summary: May 15th, 2026 Read More »
Value still has the YTD scoreboard, but Growth has the spark: higher yields, energy inflation, and geopolitical risk favor cheaper cash-flow stories, while AI monetization, rate stabilization, and semiconductor demand could quickly restore Growth leadership if investors get proof soon enough.
Factor Friday: Value has the YTD Lead; Growth has the spark Read More »
We look at Factset’s recent thematic etf momentum study, “Thematic Momentum Strategies: Enhancing Returns Using Momentum-Based Rotation and Thematic Performance Drivers” by Stephen Malinak, Ph.D., and place it in the context of current thematic flow and return dynamics.
Thematic Thursday: Sector Rotation Is Becoming a Thematic Exercise Read More »
For sector investors, the message is: stay exposed to AI leadership but add defensive ballast and avoid sectors most exposed to higher energy costs, higher rates, consumer weakness, and policy uncertainty.
COMMENTARY: The S&P 500 delivered a strong rebound during the week ending May 9, 2026, gaining 2.33% as investors responded positively to improving sentiment around economic growth, corporate earnings, and expectations for monetary policy later this year. Markets were supported by continued resilience in labor market data and easing concerns that inflation pressures could reaccelerate.
Weekly Performance Summary: May 8th, 2026 Read More »
AI adjacency is becoming the new breadth test for sector investors. As S&P 500 leadership remains concentrated around AI-linked earnings growth, winners may increasingly be defined by exposure to compute demand, power infrastructure, data centers, copper, cooling and capital formation.
AI infrastructure remains the clearest thematic driver for sector investors, favoring Technology, Industrials and selective Utilities. Conflict resolution could lower crude and rates, improving REITs, while Energy stays tactical and Materials and Healthcare remain lower-conviction without stronger flow confirmation
Risk appetite remains intact, but the rally is becoming more rate- and energy-sensitive. Strong earnings and AI capex support selective risk-on positioning, while Middle East tensions, Treasury supply, and sticky inflation risks raise the hurdle for sector leadership through May and beyond
News flow favors selective sector leadership as AI infrastructure, energy security and defense spending support Technology, Industrials, Utilities and Energy. But oil shocks, higher rates and consumer pressure create headwinds for Discretionary, travel, autos, Staples and traditional rate-sensitive Real Estate.
COMMENTARY: The S&P 500 advanced 0.91% for the week ending May 1, 2026, extending its recent winning streak as investors responded positively to another strong round of corporate earnings and resilient economic data. Markets were supported by continued strength in large-cap technology companies, easing concerns around oil prices late in the week, and evidence that
Weekly Performance Summary – May 1st, 2026 Read More »
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