Global Markets Weekly Update - April 02, 2026
U.S. Market Overview
Major U.S. stock indexes finished the week higher amid signs of de-escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Nasdaq Composite led the gains, marking its best week since November. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones also saw significant increases of 3.36% and 2.96%, respectively.
Equities rallied sharply mid-week following President Trump's comments on reducing military involvement in Iran, although sentiment weakened after a lack of a clear timeline for de-escalation. U.S. Treasuries advanced as yields fell, with the 10-year Treasury yield dropping from 4.44% to 4.31%.
Employment Data
ADP reported a gain of 62,000 jobs in March, slightly below February's figures but above expectations. Jobless claims decreased to 202,000, while continuing claims rose to 1.841 million. Job openings fell to 6.9 million, indicating a decline in labor demand.
Consumer Confidence and Manufacturing
Consumer confidence improved slightly in March, with the index rising to 91.8. Manufacturing activity expanded for the third consecutive month, with the PMI rising to 52.7, although employment in the sector continued to contract.
Market Performance Summary
| Index | Thursday's Close | Week's Change | % Change YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 46,504.67 | 1,338.03 | -3.24% |
| S&P 500 | 6,582.69 | 213.84 | -3.84% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 21,879.18 | 930.83 | -5.86% |
| S&P MidCap 400 | 3,408.16 | 97.34 | 3.12% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,530.05 | 80.35 | 1.94% |
International Markets
In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 3.92%, driven by improved sentiment regarding the Middle East conflict. However, inflation in the eurozone increased to 2.5%, primarily due to rising energy costs.
Japan's markets fell 1.7% as geopolitical tensions escalated, while China's PMI data showed signs of improvement, indicating a rebound in manufacturing activity.
Other Key Markets
Colombia experienced market volatility due to political tensions affecting the central bank, while India’s RBI took measures to stabilize the rupee amidst rising oil prices.
This summary provides an overview of the key market insights for the week ending April 02, 2026. For more detailed analysis, please refer to the full report.