Key Takeaways
- Major indexes secured consecutive weekly gains: S&P 500 rose 3.5%, Dow climbed 3%, Nasdaq surged 4.7%
- Financial giants including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America release quarterly results in coming days
- Inflation data for March revealed the sharpest monthly jump since mid-2022, fueled by energy sector pressures
- Crude oil trading around $98 per barrel, though July contracts point toward $85, potentially boosting equities
- Technology sector shows stark divide: software names plunge 30% while chip manufacturers rally over 20% year-to-date
Equity markets concluded another positive week as traders shifted focus toward the beginning of corporate reporting season. The S&P 500 advanced 3.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3%, and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 4.7% over the five-day period. Despite these gains, all three benchmarks remain in negative territory for 2026, though they’ve narrowed year-to-date losses to less than 1%.
The coming days feature an intensive corporate earnings calendar. Goldman Sachs kicks things off Monday. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo deliver results Tuesday. Bank of America and Morgan Stanley follow Wednesday, while Netflix and Taiwan Semiconductor round out the week Thursday.
#earnings for the week of April 13, 2026 https://t.co/hLn2sKQhEY $NFLX $TSM $GS $JPM $ASML $BLK $MS $BAC $C $KMX $FAST $AA $JNJ $SCHW $SIFY $SLG $JBHT $PGR $FITB $FBK $BK $PLD $NKLR $PEP $SURG $TFC $RF $WFC $SFNC $TRV $PNC $MTB $HOVR $CFG $CNS $ABT $ALLY $HOFT $LAKE $MAMA… pic.twitter.com/JFbFzQdWcB
— Earnings Whispers (@eWhispers) April 10, 2026
Investors continue monitoring international tensions carefully. Weekend diplomatic efforts in Pakistan between US and Iranian officials ended without agreement after Tehran declined to commit against nuclear weapons development, Vice President JD Vance confirmed Saturday evening.
America is waking up to some major news.
Peace talks between the US and Iran have failed and both sides have returned home.
As a result, Iran is refusing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without a permanent peace agreement and the US has called it "bad news" for Iran.
Now, we…
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 12, 2026
Crude Prices Remain Central to Market Direction
Since conflict erupted between the United States and Iran, crude oil has become the primary metric commanding market attention. West Texas Intermediate closed Friday’s session around $98 per barrel, significantly elevated from approximately $68 before hostilities commenced.
Yet contracts for July delivery are pricing oil substantially lower, near $85. Evercore ISI’s Julian Emanuel indicated WTI settling in the “low-to-mid $80s” would eliminate current headwinds pressuring equity valuations.
The two-week pause in military operations between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran provided momentum to markets during the previous week. The durability of this ceasefire will significantly influence both crude trajectories and overall market performance.
Friday’s consumer price data revealed headline inflation accelerated 0.9% during March, marking the most substantial monthly advance since June 2022. Analysts attributed the majority of this increase to energy-related price pressures stemming from regional instability.
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment reading plummeted to an all-time low in April, although 98% of survey responses were gathered prior to the ceasefire announcement.
Technology Sector Displays Dramatic Performance Divide
The performance gap within equity markets has expanded considerably. The iShares Software Sector ETF declined more than 7% during the past week and has tumbled 30% since January.
Salesforce represents the largest detractor, sliding over 35% in 2026. AppLovin, Intuit, and ServiceNow have each retreated more than 40%. Microsoft, Palantir, and Oracle have all declined more than 25%.
Chip manufacturers present a contrasting narrative. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF has climbed over 20% year-to-date. Intel, Applied Materials, Lam Research, and Marvell Technologies have each appreciated more than 50%.
ASML releases quarterly figures Wednesday, with Taiwan Semiconductor following Thursday. Taiwan Semiconductor previously disclosed robust March revenue figures, signaling sustained demand for artificial intelligence processors.
Netflix also announces results Thursday, capping an event-filled week for corporate earnings.
