S&P 500 ends lower as investors weigh data, Middle East tensions

S&P 500 ends lower as investors weigh data, Middle East tensions

By Noel Randewich

Fri August 14, 2026   

Weaker retail sales data combined with a drop in confidence once again in AI brought all three indexes down after yesterday’s tech rally and another S&P record. The kicker was Applied Materials which, though it turned in a glowing Q3 forecast, was not enough to satisfy the high expectations and thus the share price fell and that again impacted overall AI sentiment as being overwrought, dropping other AI chip stocks.  

S&P 500 notches record-high close as rate-hike worries ease

S&P 500 notches record-high close as rate-hike worries ease

By Noel Randewich and Avinash P

Thu August 13, 2026  

PPI was out today and like the CPI showed a flat increase in prices once again bolstering hopes that there will be no rate increase next month and subsequently sending a number of more chip companies surging, the Nasdaq once again up a respectable 3-digits and the S&P with its 50-point gain reaching another new record. After a 300-point morning surge, the Dow dropped to a minus 150 by noon, then back up and remained relatively flat the rest of the day. 

S&P 500 ends higher as CoreWeave results fuel AI optimism

S&P 500 ends higher as CoreWeave results fuel AI optimism

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Wed August 12, 2026  

Several AI companies turning in good reports shot the tech indexes straight up to decent gains with both the Nasdaq and S&P regaining almost all of yesterday’s losses. The enthusiasm also spilled over to the companies building data centers with stocks like Nebus boosting an amazing 34%. Combine that with the good news that CPI came in basically flat.  

Wall Street ends down as US-Iran peace optimism fades

Wall Street ends down as US-Iran peace optimism fades

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Tue August 11, 2026  

For the second day after new proposals to end the war have utterly failed, the market took a dive straight down, this time much more seriously than yesterday. As Iran said, “The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. accepts Iran’s conditions to end the war.” As of this past weekend, those conditions now include the U.S. paying restitution for all the damage done to Iran. As reported yesterday, Trump has countered that by demanding Iran pay restitution for every American lost in the attacks by Iran.  

Wall Street ends down as expectations of Hormuz deal fade

Wall Street ends down as expectations of Hormuz deal fade

By Caroline Valetkevitch and Noel Randewich

Mon August 10, 2026  

The peace negotiations have become a sticky wicket with Tehran now demanding compensation for all the damage done by U.S. strikes during this war and Trump countering by demanding compensation for all lives lost in the war. Suddenly a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appears at a standstill and with hopes fading for this critical aspect of the negotiations which could bring down the price of oil and help stabilize inflation, the markets turned downward. The Nasdaq closed down the hardest, the S&P stayed pretty close to flat after Friday’s record.  

S&P closes at record high as soft jobs report eases rate-hike concerns

S&P closes at record high as soft jobs report eases rate-hike concerns

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Shashwat Chauhan

Fri August 7, 2026  

Per today’s jobs report, the economy lost over 100,000 jobs, that is if you’re counting the 80,000 forecasted increase that didn’t happen and the 23,000 unexpected decrease that did. It was good news on the inflation front as providing more fodder to stall off a rate increase. The odds today of a September increase has fallen to 44% vs yesterday’s 55 vs last week’s 67. That’s a 35% decrease in a week.  

Stocks close lower as investors eye Mideast talks, earnings

Stocks close lower as investors eye Mideast talks, earnings

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Shashwat Chauhan

Thu August 6, 2026  

Peace hopes got muted today over the impending opening of the Strait of Hormuz but with the Iranian parliament considering banning the U.S. and its allies from using it. This combined with more AI jitters brought all three indexes down for a second day after a very vigorous 3-day rally. Oddly, two of the tech companies that fell today, Western Digital and Sandisk, actually turned in glowing Q2 and have been booming this year, Western up 400%, Sandisk 160%.