Stocks fell sharply last week, with each of the benchmark indexes posting declines as rising energy prices, tensions in the Middle East, and renewed stagflation fears dampened risk sentiment. The S&P 500 fell to a four-month low, while underperforming tech stocks impacted the NASDAQ. A higher-than-expected Producer Price Index (see below) and hawkish comments from […]
Read MoreMonth: March 2026
Strait of Hormuz Oil Trade by Country | Key Exporters & Importers
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy waterways, with approximately 25% of the global maritime oil trade flowing through the Strait. This infographic shows the top exporters and importers by country of crude oil and condensate (a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons related to the extraction of crude oil) flowing through […]
Read MoreWeekly Market Update: Oil Prices Shake Markets as Stocks Fall for Third Week
Wall Street saw a third straight week of losses as rising oil prices sparked inflation fears. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here declined as investors moved away from risk. Last week was marked by intensifying geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. The week began on a high note, with markets pushing past early losses […]
Read More2026 Tax Filing Deadline: What to Know Before April 15
The federal income tax filing deadline for most individuals is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. However, the IRS has postponed the deadline to file federal income tax returns and make tax payments for certain disaster-area taxpayers. The current list of eligible localities and other details for each disaster is always available at irs.gov. Here are some things to […]
Read MoreWeekly Market Update: Stocks Fall as Oil Prices Surge
Stocks ended last week sharply lower, impacted by renewed inflation and geopolitical events. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended the week lower, while crude oil prices surged to the highest levels since August 2022, as intensifying tensions in the Middle East disrupted global energy trade. Higher energy costs triggered a move from risk, […]
Read MoreWeaker U.S. Dollar: What It Means for Your Money
The U.S. Dollar Index — which measures the value of the dollar against the world’s six most traded currencies — took a historic 11% dive in the first six months of 2025, delivering the worst first-half performance since the 1973 oil crisis. As of February 27, 2026, the dollar had lost more than 10% of […]
Read MoreWeekly Market Update: Wall Street Closes Lower on Stubborn Inflation
The last week of the month proved to be a tough one for Wall Street. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed the week lower, impacted by stubborn inflation and a cooling of major tech and AI stocks. The Producer Price Index rose faster than in the previous two months (see below), which fueled […]
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