Market Recap of the Week of Apr 19, 2026 - Apr 26, 2026

Overall Market Trends:

Markets were mixed this week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pushing to all-time highs while the NYSE Composite and Dow slipped on the week. The S&P 500 gained 39.96 points (+0.56%), and the Nasdaq added 370.04 points (+1.51%), while the NYSE Composite shed 260.52 points (-1.12%) and the Dow dropped 211.85 points (-0.43%). These results were largely influenced by the repercussions of the war in the Middle East; specifically, uncertainty over a potential ceasefire and a naval standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stocks slipped Monday as the weekend brought fresh escalation, with Trump announcing the U.S. had seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after Iran declined to join another round of peace talks in Pakistan. Trump also threatened to blow up Iran's power plants and bridges if a deal wasn't reached soon, and the Strait of Hormuz tightened back up after Iran said the U.S. had not fulfilled its obligations from the prior week's ceasefire. WTI jumped 6.87% to $89.61, and Brent gained 5.64% to $95.48. The Nasdaq snapped its 13-session winning streak. Software stocks held up relatively well, and the Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) bucked the broader weakness to score a new closing record.

Selling continued throughout Tuesday’s trading session as nerves built ahead of the ceasefire expiration the following day. Reports surfaced that VP Vance's trip to join peace talks had been paused due to a lack of commitment from Tehran, which sent stocks lower into the close. Oil pushed higher again, with WTI climbing 2.81% to $92.13 and Brent adding 3.14% to $98.48. After the bell, Trump extended the ceasefire, citing Iran's "seriously fractured" government. UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH) was a bright spot, surging about 7% after topping earnings expectations and raising its outlook. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) also edged higher after announcing a $25 billion investment in AI startup Anthropic.

Stocks bounced back on Wednesday and hit fresh records after Trump's ceasefire extension gave investors room to breathe. Boeing (NYSE: BA) jumped 5.5% after posting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss, and GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) surged nearly 14% on better-than-expected revenue. Earnings season has been strong broadly, with over 80% of S&P 500 companies beating estimates so far. Iran's navy seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz during the session, and Brent crossed back above $100, but the market largely shrugged it off.

Stocks pulled back Thursday as software came under fire and oil climbed again. IBM (NYSE: IBM) dropped more than 8% after maintaining its full-year guidance despite a top and bottom line beat, and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) cratered nearly 18% after its subscription revenue growth took a hit from the Middle East conflict. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) all followed lower, with Palantir off more than 7% and Oracle down roughly 6%. Brent settled above $105 after reports emerged that Iran's parliament speaker had resigned from the negotiating team, raising fears the Revolutionary Guard was tightening its grip. Air defenses were also reported engaging targets in Tehran late in the session.

Stocks closed the week at fresh records Friday after reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi was heading to Islamabad to meet with Pakistani mediators about a possible second round of U.S.-Iran talks. WTI pulled back to just above $94 on the news. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) stole the show, soaring 23.6% for its best single-day gain since October 1987 after crushing earnings estimates and issuing an upbeat outlook. The semiconductor space was broadly strong, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX) notching its 18th straight positive session and finishing the week up 11%. Israel and Lebanon also extended their ceasefire by three weeks, adding another layer of optimism heading into the weekend.

Source: CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel)

Past Earnings Report:

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Upcoming Important Economic Events:

Monday: Nothing Scheduled
Tuesday: Consumer Confidence • Richmond Manufacturing Index
Wednesday: Federal Reserve Interest Rate decision
Thursday: Initial jobless claims • Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) • Core PCE
Friday: Nothing Scheduled

Future Earnings Reports:

Market Recap (4/26/26)

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