Frankly, it is recently a challenge to write our weekly retirement report on Sunday mornings. Between the moment my fingers stop typing and the market opening on Monday, a great deal can change.
Let’s begin with a bit of good news. Despite a sharp 7% spike in oil prices last Friday, interest rates remained relatively anchored—at least for the day.
That said, interest rates have moved noticeably higher over the past month. This reflects renewed short-term inflation concerns, which have weighed on fixed income markets. Longer-term rates have also drifted higher, although longer-term inflation expectations remain relatively stable.
If interest rates can stabilize from here, that would be a meaningful step in the right direction for diversified portfolios.
Market Index Snapshot
| Index | Last Week | YTD | From Recent Highs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | (0.79%) | (5.92%) | (11.93%) |
| S&P 500 | (2.06%) | (6.91%) | (9.95%) |
| NASDAQ | (3.09%) | (9.73%) | (14.66%) |
| Russell 2000 | +0.58% | (1.18%) | (11.67%) |
| Foreign Stocks | +0.09% | (2.46%) | (12.85%) |
| Emerging Markets | (1.02%) | +0.67% | (19.49%) |
The 10-year US Treasury closed last Friday with a yield of 4.428%.
Where Do We Go From Here?
With many major market indexes now in correction territory, stemming further downside will likely require a credible and actionable plan from the administration to bring an end to the current conflict.
Up until last week, President Trump had some success in “jawboning” market stabilization—at least temporarily. However, markets appear to be growing skeptical. There is only so many times rhetoric can support sentiment without tangible progress.
While resolving geopolitical conflict is far beyond this financial advisor’s expertise, one must wonder—was the Strait of Hormuz fully considered before initiating this course of action?
For markets to stabilize—and ultimately move higher—we need a clear, credible path toward resolution measured in weeks, not months.
The longer this conflict persists, the greater the risk of rising oil prices. That, in turn, fuels inflation, pressures consumer sentiment, and dampens spending.
For now, we remain hopeful for meaningful progress—something concrete that both markets and portfolios can respond to positively.
Thank you for reading!
Paul Levin, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, TPCP®
Managing Principal
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
All market data sourced from The Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2026.
