Shasha Tax & Retirement

2026 / May Monthly Market Update – April, 2026 Geopolitical April was shaped by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly developments involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Although a fragile ceasefire held for parts of the month, stalled peace talks sustained elevated volatility across global markets. However, despite these geopolitical headwinds, U.S. equities delivered robust gains, demonstrating investors’ ability to look past near-term risks when supported by strong corporate...

Monthly Market Update June 2026Helping You Understand the Markets & What They Mean for Your Financial Future Market in One Minute June reminded investors that markets are constantly balancing multiple forces at once. A leadership transition at the Federal Reserve, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and persistent inflation all competed for investors' focus. While technology stocks took a breather after a strong run, value-oriented sectors and small-cap companies posted solid...

2026 / May Shasha Tax & Retirement Monthly Market Update Geopolitical May began with investors watching the ongoing tensions in Iran and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices moderated as investors became more optimistic that a broader escalation could be avoided. And as geopolitical fears cooled, investors were able to refocus on earnings, economic data, and the continued growth of the US Economy. Stock Market Performance U.S. equities posted solid gains in May, led by...

2026 / March Shasha Tax & Retirement - Monthly Market Update March 2026 Geopolitical: Tensions in the Middle East escalated after strikes on Iranian targets, disrupting key oil shipping routes and pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel by the end of March. The surge boosted energy investments but added fresh cost pressures for businesses and consumers alike, including higher gasoline prices. Stock Market Performance: U.S. equities came under downward pressure as geopolitical risks and...

2026 / February Shasha Tax & Retirement Monthly Market Update U.S. equities experienced mixed performance in February amid ongoing economic resilience, policy uncertainties, and some late-month profit-taking, with major indices showing modest declines or flat closes by month-end. The S&P 500 closed around 6,878.88, the NASDAQ Composite ended near 22,668.21 (a loss of roughly 3.38%), while the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at approximately 48,977.92. The Federal Reserve held the...

2026 / February Monthly Market Update As 2026 began, U.S. equities delivered modest gains in January despite some volatility and profit-taking toward month-end, building on the strong momentum from 2025. The S&P 500 closed up about 1.35% for the month and YTD, supported by resilient corporate earnings and continued interest in technology and AI themes. The Nasdaq Composite posted a 0.94% gain, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.70% for the month and YTD. The Federal Reserve held...

2026 / January Monthly Market Update As 2025 drew to a close, U.S. equities delivered another year of solid gains despite a subdued finish in December, capping three consecutive years of double-digit returns for major indices. The S&P 500 rose approximately 16.4% for the year, driven largely by continued enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and resilient corporate earnings, though the Nasdaq outperformed with around 20% gains fueled by tech-heavy weighting. The Federal Reserve concluded the...