Market Recap of the Week of Mar 22, 2026 - Mar 29, 2026

Overall Market Trends:

Last week marked the fifth straight week of significant losses for indices. While the New York Stock Exchange Composite (NYSE) saw a 19-point gain on the week (+0.09%), the S&P 500 slid 141 points (-2.16%), the NASDAQ Composite sank 703 points (-3.25%), and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a weekly loss of 447 points (-0.98%). These results were largely influenced by the ongoing Iran war, as peace talks developments and Strait of Hormuz disruptions whipped oil prices around all week, keeping markets on edge.

Stocks surged Monday after Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran had held productive talks and that he was halting strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. Oil cratered on the news, with WTI dropping over 10% to $88.13 and Brent falling nearly 11% to just under $100. The relief rally was broad. JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) both climbed, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) added 3%, and airlines caught a big bid as fuel costs eased, with Delta (NYSE: DAL) and United (NYSE: UAL) up over 2% and 4%. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) each gained over 1%. Iranian state media later denied that any direct talks had taken place, which pulled futures off their highs, but stocks held onto solid gains heading into the close.

Selling crept back in on Tuesday as oil reversed and confusion over the peace talks clouded sentiment. Brent jumped 4.55% to $104.49 and WTI climbed 4.79% to $92.35 as traders second-guessed Monday's optimism. Israel and Iran continued exchanging strikes despite Trump's earlier comments, and reports surfaced that the Pentagon was eyeing a deployment of around 3,000 troops to the region. Energy was the only sector in positive territory on the month, gaining another 2% on the day. The rest of the market struggled to find direction.

Stocks bounced back Wednesday as oil pulled back and ceasefire hopes picked back up. Reports emerged that the U.S. had sent Iran a 15-point peace proposal through Pakistan, which gave traders something to work with. WTI slid 2.2% to $90.32 and Brent fell 2.17% to $102.22. Tech led the way higher, with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), AMD (NASDAQ: AMD), and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) all jumping on the day. Iran's state media did say the country would reject the U.S. offer and put forward its own five-point plan demanding control of the Strait of Hormuz, so the gap between the two sides remained wide.

Stocks dropped hard Thursday as oil climbed again and Trump's tone toward Iran turned sharp. Brent jumped 5.66% to $108.01 and WTI gained 4.61% to $94.48. Trump posted on Truth Social warning Iran to "get serious soon, before it is too late," calling their negotiators "very different" and "strange." Gulf nations also issued a joint statement Thursday condemning Iran's strikes on their energy infrastructure from Iraqi territory. Treasury yields spiked alongside oil. The Nasdaq closed in correction territory, down more than 10% from its high.

Selling accelerated Friday as Brent crossed $110 and the Strait of Hormuz situation deteriorated further. Two Chinese ships were turned away at the waterway and a Thai-flagged cargo vessel ran aground after taking a hit. Trump extended his deadline to strike Iranian energy infrastructure to April 6, posting that talks were "going very well," but the market wasn't buying it. Iran's foreign minister again said Tehran has no intention of holding direct talks with the U.S., and reports surfaced that the Pentagon was weighing sending another 10,000 troops to the region. WTI settled just under $100, its highest close since July 2022. It was the fifth straight weekly decline for the S&P 500.

Source: CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel)

Past Earnings Report:

This Week in Crypto

Live Crypto Markets:

Looking Towards the Future

Upcoming Important Economic Events:

Monday: Various Fed Officials Speak
Tuesday: S&P Cotality Case-Shiller home price index (20 cities) • Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) • Job openings • Consumer confidence
Wednesday: ADP jobs • S&P final U.S. manufacturing PMI • Fed governor Michael Barr speaks
Thursday: Initial jobless claims • U.S. trade deficit
Friday: U.S. employment report • U.S. unemployment rate • S&P final U.S. services PMI

Future Earnings Reports:

Market Recap (3/29/26)

This Week in Crypto