Hope Wins the Day
Week Ending April 10, 2026
You know that feeling when you've been holding your breath and finally get to exhale? That was markets last week.
After weeks of waking up to headlines about geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns, investors caught wind of potential ceasefire talks in the Middle East. It wasn't earth-shattering news, but it was enough to shift the mood. Sometimes that's all markets need, hope itself becomes the catalyst for change.
Market Overview
Weekly Market Performance (April 7 to April 10, 2026)
- S&P 500: +3.56%
- Nasdaq Composite: +4.68%
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: +3.04%
- MSCI EAFE Index: +4.52%
- S&P/TSX Composite Index: +2.1%
Tech stocks led the way, jumping over 4.5 percent. The Dow, which had been underwater for weeks, finally turned positive for the year. Even our Canadian markets got in on it, with the TSX climbing 2.1 percent as energy and financial stocks rebounded.
The Plot Twist
Here's where it gets interesting: by Friday, inflation data came in hotter than expected. Headline inflation hit its highest level since April 2024. In any other week, that would have sent markets tumbling.
But investors did something different this time. They looked closer. Yes, headline inflation jumped to 3.8 percent, but that was mostly due to a 21 percent spike in gas prices. Core inflation, the stuff that actually matters to the Fed and your wallet, stayed well-behaved at 2.7 percent. So instead of panicking, the market essentially said, "We've seen this movie before," and moved on.
What's Really Going On
If you've been feeling the market whiplash lately, you're not alone. We're in one of those environments where every speech from a Fed official, every geopolitical update, every economic data point gets magnified ten times over.
Energy prices are driving inflation conversations. Central banks are walking a tightrope between supporting growth and fighting inflation. And geopolitical tensions keep everyone on edge, wondering what comes next.
The good news? The underlying economy is still standing. Jobs continue to be created. People are spending. Companies are reporting earnings. Life goes on, even when the headlines are screaming.
A Thought as We Head Into the Week
Markets will likely stay reactive this week. We've got earnings from some of the biggest names in finance, tech, and consumer goods. Economic data will keep arriving. Fed officials will keep speaking.
And yes, there will probably be days that feel uncomfortable.
But here's what I've learned after years of watching markets: the investors who do best aren't the ones reacting to every headline. They're the ones who remember why they invested in the first place, stay diversified, and trust their plan. Even in weeks like these, that approach works.
This Week: Key Economic Data
Monday, April 13th
- Existing Home Sales
- Fed governor Stephen Miran speaks
Tuesday, April 14th
- NFIB Small Business Optimism Index
- Producer Price Index
Wednesday, April 15th
- Import Prices
- Home Builder Confidence
- Fed Beige Book
Thursday, April 16th
- Weekly Jobless Claims
- Industrial Production
Friday, April 17th
- Housing Starts
- Building Permits
This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings
Monday, April 13th
- Goldman Sachs
- Fastenal
Tuesday, April 14th
- JPMorgan Chase
- Johnson & Johnson
- Wells Fargo
- Citigroup
- BlackRock
Wednesday, April 15th
- Bank of America
- Morgan Stanley
- Progressive
- PNC Financial Services
- Kinder Morgan
Thursday, April 16th
- Netflix
- PepsiCo
- Abbott Laboratories
- Charles Schwab
- Prologis
- Bank of New York Mellon
- U.S. Bancorp
- Marsh
- The Travelers Companies
Friday, April 17th
- Truist Financial
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”
– Jim Rohn
A ship cruised out of the Pacific Ocean and into the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama Canal, but as it went through the Panama Canal, it didn’t travel east. How is this possible?
Last Week's Riddle: I never complain, no matter where I am led; I go around in circles, yet move straight ahead. What am I?
Answer: A wheel.
Joanne's son, Matthew, enjoying our nice spring weather. Location: South Beach, Ucluelet
Footnotes and Sources
1. WSJ.com, April 10, 2026
2. Investing.com, April 10, 2026
3. CNBC.com, April 6, 2026
4. CNBC.com, April 7, 2026
5. CNBC.com, April 8, 2026
6. WSJ.com, April 9, 2026
7. WSJ.com, April 10, 2026
8. CNBC.com, April 10, 2026
9. IRS.gov , September 16,2025
10. Mhanational.org, November 17, 2025
Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the Nasdaq stock market and considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.
Please consult your financial professional for additional information.