Weekly Market Bullets

for the week ending 8/21/2026

• US Equity Markets declined last week as rising interest rates and oil prices unsettled investors. The S&P 500 was down 1.4% for the week and is now up 12.1% for the year. The Nasdaq fell 2.1% for the week to bring its gains for the year to 12.6%, while the Russell 2000 (small cap stocks) decreased 1.7% for the week and is now up 21.6% for the year.

• Global Equity Markets were mixed last week as renewed uncertainty in the Middle East and rising energy prices impacted markets. Developed Markets declined 0.5% for the week and are now up 12.5% for the year. Emerging Markets increased 1.2% for the week to bring their gains for the year to 22.6%.

• US Interest rates increased despite the US Treasury's pending intervention. The yield on the 10-Year US Treasury hit its highest level for the year before closing at 4.73% vs. 4.69% the prior week. The yield on the 30-Year Treasury hit is highest level since 2007 at 5.32% before closing the week at 5.27%. The rise in 30-Year yields prompted the Treasury to announce that it will be doubling the number of 30-Year Treasuries it will repurchase beginning in September.

• August is typically not the month when equity markets top. According to Baird Strategas, since 1950, the S&P 500 has only hit its high for the year in August about 6% of the time. While September is historically the weakest month of the year, returns in September are typically favorable when markets have acted well through August, as they have this year. FYI, market tops have occurred most often in March (19% of the time) and December (18%).

Market Data

for the week ending 8/21/2026