CHARTCHAI KANTHATHAN/iStock via Getty Images By Michael Kagan and Stephen Rigo, CFA Current Conditions Argue for Caution Market Overview The first quarter of 2026 was defined by a sharp shift in market leadership and a material deterioration in investor sentiment by quarter end. January and February were relatively calm at the S&P 500 Index ( SP500 ) level, but important changes were already takin...
CHARTCHAI KANTHATHAN/iStock via Getty Images By Michael Kagan and Stephen Rigo, CFA Current Conditions Argue for Caution Market Overview The first quarter of 2026 was defined by a sharp shift in market leadership and a material deterioration in investor sentiment by quarter end. January and February were relatively calm at the S&P 500 Index ( SP500 ) level, but important changes were already taking place beneath the surface. That calm gave way to volatility in March, when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a broad selloff with the index declining 5.0% during the month. By quarter end, the S&P 500 was down 4.3%, though still up a healthy 17.8% over the trailing 12 months. One of the quarter’s defining features was the emergence of new market leadership. Long-lagging sectors outperformed, reversing the AI-driven momentum that dominated the prior three years (Exhibit 1). Materials, industrials, energy, utilities, real estate and consumer staples all outperformed in the quarter despite having lagged the index in calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025 (save for industrials’ in-line performance in 2025 largely due to AI-levered shares). "The techno-optimist vision of an “age of abundance,” in which AI, robotics and automation drive sharply lower costs, is being challenged by scarcity across critical inputs." Energy was the clear standout, rising 38.2% as the U.S.-Iran conflict pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel. Materials also performed well, led by chemicals and mining companies that benefited from concerns around geopolitical supply disruption. Industrials’ outperformance was driven primarily by defense companies and entities tied to AI and energy infrastructure. Finally, consumer staples, real estate and utilities found footing as relative safe havens after a protracted period of underperformance (staples shares have lagged the index by nearly 50% over the past three years). Exhibit 1: Long-Lagging Sectors Outperformed As of March 31, 2026. Source: Clear...
AMD Has Stuffed Ample Cores And Cache In Its Ryzen 9 9950X3D To Tackle Gaming & Multi-Core Workloads; Best Of All, This CPU is Now $125 Off On Amazon Wccftech
AMD Has Stuffed Ample Cores And Cache In Its Ryzen 9 9950X3D To Tackle Gaming & Multi-Core Workloads; Best Of All, This CPU is Now $125 Off On Amazon Wccftech
Photo of the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account on April 25th, 2026. @realdonaldtrump | Truth Social The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was derailed Saturday night after an armed man, Cole Allen , rushed through a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement. The suspected gunman was appreh...
Photo of the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account on April 25th, 2026. @realdonaldtrump | Truth Social The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was derailed Saturday night after an armed man, Cole Allen , rushed through a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement. The suspected gunman was apprehended at the scene and is expected to be arraigned on Monday. One law enforcement agent was shot but not seriously injured, and all Trump administration officials and lawmakers were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported among the attendees. After the incident, President Donald Trump — who was attending his first White House Correspondents' Dinner as president — requested that the event be rescheduled. While the dinner was initially set to proceed, it was canceled because law enforcement deemed the venue an active crime scene. Read more CNBC politics coverage Trump’s lack of focus on economy is spooking Republicans as 2026 election looms Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill any boat’ laying mines in Hormuz Strait U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan leaving Trump administration: Pentagon Here's what we know about Allen: He was allegedly targeting Trump administration Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspected shooter was likely targeting administration officials during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." "It does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration," Blanche said, noting that authorities are still "looking to try to understand a motive from our preliminary investigation." Blanche said it is unclear whether the shooter was targeting "particular members" of the administration, only that "we do understand that that was his goal and his target." He traveled from Los Angeles Blanche said Allen, of Torrance, California, traveled by train from "Los Angeles to Chicago, then Chicago to D.C." Allen was booked at the Washington Hilton, ...
Over the last year, some of the strongest stock performance has come not from artificial intelligence companies or large tech operators. Instead, some companies offering noticeable gains have been in the industrials sector. Two that have performed particularly well over the last year are Howmet Aerospace (NYSE: HWM) and Generac Holdings (NYSE: GNRC) . Let's look at why those stock price runs could...
Over the last year, some of the strongest stock performance has come not from artificial intelligence companies or large tech operators. Instead, some companies offering noticeable gains have been in the industrials sector. Two that have performed particularly well over the last year are Howmet Aerospace (NYSE: HWM) and Generac Holdings (NYSE: GNRC) . Let's look at why those stock price runs could continue, making each company a long-term buy. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
simonkr The global art market is showing unusual weakness, with sales stagnating even as other industries serving the ultrawealthy continue to thrive, according to The Wall Street Journal’s marquee “Heard on the Street” column. Private jet deliveries reached a 15-year high in 2025, while superyacht sales hit a record, highlighting the contrast with sluggish demand for fine art. Global art sales ro...
simonkr The global art market is showing unusual weakness, with sales stagnating even as other industries serving the ultrawealthy continue to thrive, according to The Wall Street Journal’s marquee “Heard on the Street” column. Private jet deliveries reached a 15-year high in 2025, while superyacht sales hit a record, highlighting the contrast with sluggish demand for fine art. Global art sales rose 4% in 2025, according to the Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report, but remained well below the highs of 2022 and still trailed 2019 levels by 7%. The soft performance is especially notable in the U.S., where stock markets remain near record highs and wealthy households have benefited from rising portfolios. The market now faces a key test during New York’s spring auctions next month. Top-quality works are expected to attract strong bidding, but demand for lesser pieces may remain uneven. Auction watchers will closely track how many lots carry guaranteed minimum bids, a common sign that sellers want protection in uncertain markets. One factor weighing on demand may be the shift toward viewing art as an investment asset. In recent years, hedge fund managers and private equity executives often used art collections as collateral for low-cost loans, then invested borrowed cash elsewhere. Higher interest rates have made that strategy less attractive and increased the cost of holding expensive works. Art has also disappointed many short-term speculators. Data from Bank of America and ArtTactic showed works sold in the U.S. in 2025 that had been purchased within the prior five years lost an average of 5.7% annually. Owners typically need to hold art for at least a decade to break even, before accounting for insurance, commissions and taxes. Another challenge may be changing tastes. Baby boomers helped drive huge prices for postwar and contemporary artists such as Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon. Younger collectors are increasingly drawn to works by Black artists and wo...
Four days ago, Amazon made a move that sent a signal across the AI industry. Now Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) has answered with something even larger. And the company at the center of both bets -- Anthropic -- is one and the same. The scale of what is happening around Anthropic right now is ...
Four days ago, Amazon made a move that sent a signal across the AI industry. Now Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) has answered with something even larger. And the company at the center of both bets -- Anthropic -- is one and the same. The scale of what is happening around Anthropic right now is ...
watch now VIDEO 1:26 01:26 Video: Trump evacuated from WH Correspondents Dinner after gunshots Digital Original President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials were evacuated from an annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday after shots rang out soon after the start of the dinner. At least five shots were heard at the event in the Washington Hilton hotel around...
watch now VIDEO 1:26 01:26 Video: Trump evacuated from WH Correspondents Dinner after gunshots Digital Original President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials were evacuated from an annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday after shots rang out soon after the start of the dinner. At least five shots were heard at the event in the Washington Hilton hotel around 8:35 p.m. ET. Trump, who was seated on stage at the front of the ballroom next to first lady Melania , was quickly surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents, while hundreds of attendees ducked under their tables for cover. It appeared that no one was seriously injured. The gunman was taken into custody. Here are some of the chaotic scenes that occurred in the aftermath of the shooting. First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump attend of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. Nathan Howard | Getty Images News | Getty Images Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Nathan Howard | Getty Images News | Getty Images Federal agents draw their guns out after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Nathan Howard | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026, in this screen capture from video. Bo Erickson | Reuters US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) i...
ICE Nabs Illegal Alien Pedophile In Virginia; Sanctuary Officials Ignored Detainer Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, ICE has arrested an illegal alien child sex predator in Abigail Spanberger’s Virginia. Authorities there tried to protect him by declining an ICE detainer last year and releasing him back into the community. Of course they did. The suspect, Roni Mendez-Escobar, a Guatemal...
ICE Nabs Illegal Alien Pedophile In Virginia; Sanctuary Officials Ignored Detainer Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, ICE has arrested an illegal alien child sex predator in Abigail Spanberger’s Virginia. Authorities there tried to protect him by declining an ICE detainer last year and releasing him back into the community. Of course they did. The suspect, Roni Mendez-Escobar, a Guatemalan national, faced charges including multiple felony counts of possession of obscene material and child pornography with intent to distribute. 🚨 HOLY CRAP! ICE has just arrested an illegal alien CHILD S*X PREDATOR in Abigail Spanberger's Virginia She tried to PROTECT him. She ran as a "moderate." In practice, she's letting kids get abused by illegals! FOX: "Virginia authorities declined an ICE detainer for him last… pic.twitter.com/54Zvfc9PJq — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 24, 2026 Fairfax County’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement allowed him to remain free despite the detainer – exactly the outcome sanctuary policies are designed to produce. This isn’t an isolated failure. It’s the predictable result of Virginia Democrats turning the state into a magnet for criminal illegal aliens while American families bear the cost. Spanberger ran as a “moderate,” yet her administration’s moves to limit cooperation with ICE have repeatedly put Virginia children and residents at risk. Just weeks ago, ICE urged Spanberger not to release another criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, Misael Lopez Gomez, who allegedly bludgeoned his own three-month-old daughter to death with blunt force trauma in Fairfax. ⚖️🚨NIGHTMARE IN VIRGINIA A 3 month-old girl is dead. GOP lawmakers and the Department of Homeland Security is blaming "lax" Democrat ‘Sanctuary’ policies after two illegal immigrants were charged in two separate, gruesome slayings. Gustamalan national Misael Lopez Gomez, is… https://t.co/iEUbISHkyt pic.twitter.com/quFI5bTlip — Tosca Austen (@ToscaAusten) Apri...
The 31-year-old teacher and engineer from California sent an alleged message to family members saying that he wanted to target administration officials (Image credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The 31-year-old teacher and engineer from California sent an alleged message to family members saying that he wanted to target administration officials (Image credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Some have waited all season for Hearts to falter. Plenty thought it might be at Easter Road. But Derek McInnes' side are still going, writes Tom English.
Some have waited all season for Hearts to falter. Plenty thought it might be at Easter Road. But Derek McInnes' side are still going, writes Tom English.
In nuclear energy stocks, the companies that receive the lion's share of attention are those building reactors and developing new, innovative technology. Behind the scenes in the nuclear energy sector is a company that isn't as flashy, providing the construction and engineering services needed to get reactors up and running. But it's exactly that type of business that's attracting investors who un...
In nuclear energy stocks, the companies that receive the lion's share of attention are those building reactors and developing new, innovative technology. Behind the scenes in the nuclear energy sector is a company that isn't as flashy, providing the construction and engineering services needed to get reactors up and running. But it's exactly that type of business that's attracting investors who understand the potential of the nuclear power industry, want a piece of the upside, and are also seeking to limit their risk. That type of pick-and-shovel play brings us to Fluor (NYSE: FLR) , which is having a strong run in 2026. Continue reading
Traders in the US Treasury market are turning their focus to this week’s Federal Reserve meeting to gauge how officials are assessing the outlook for inflation as tensions in the Middle East keep oil prices elevated. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold Wednesday, although traders are leaning toward a cut by year-end. On Friday, swaps markets reflected around a 40% ch...
Traders in the US Treasury market are turning their focus to this week’s Federal Reserve meeting to gauge how officials are assessing the outlook for inflation as tensions in the Middle East keep oil prices elevated. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold Wednesday, although traders are leaning toward a cut by year-end. On Friday, swaps markets reflected around a 40% chance of a reduction by then, rising from about 20% after the Justice Department dropped its investigation into the Fed. The move potentially opens a path for President Donald Trump ’s pick, Kevin Warsh , to become Fed chair and push for easier policy. Against that backdrop, traders will be listening closely to current Chair Jerome Powell ’s press conference after Wednesday’s policy decision for an update on his plans after his term ends in May. Benchmark yields have been stuck in a range for the past couple weeks as traders followed the negotiations toward a resolution of the Iran war. With crude prices still well above their pre-war levels, economists have raised their estimates for US inflation and say they anticipate only one Fed cut this year. Investors will get a slew of data releases this week, including readings on inflation. Employment and retail sales continue to hold up, suggesting a resilient economy last month even as oil prices surged. The week will likely feature buying of Treasuries tied to month-end. Tests of demand for US debt at current yield levels are also ahead, with sales including Monday’s auctions of two-, and five-year notes. What to Watch • Economic data: April 27: Dallas Fed manufacturing index April 28: ADP weekly employment change; FHFA house price index; S&P Cotality US HPI; Richmond Fed manufacturing index and business conditions; Conference Board consumer confidence and expectations; Dallas Fed services activity April 29: MBA mortgage applications; retail inventories; Census release of February and March housing starts; advance goods trade ba...