Global Markets Weekly Update - April 17, 2026

U.S. Market Overview

U.S. stocks experienced strong gains for the third consecutive week, with major indexes reaching record highs. The Nasdaq Composite led the way with a 6.84% increase, driven by positive earnings reports and economic data, alongside easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Key developments included:

• U.S.-Iran ceasefire and optimism around negotiations.
• Producer prices rose slower than expected, indicating cooling inflation.
• Jobless claims remained stable, suggesting a steady employment backdrop.
• Regional manufacturing activity showed signs of improvement.
• Weakness in the housing market continued, with existing home sales down 3.6%.

Market Performance

Index	Friday's Close	Week's Change	% Change YTD
DJIA	49,447.43	1,530.86	2.88%
S&P 500	7,126.06	309.17	4.10%
Nasdaq Composite	24,468.48	1,565.59	5.28%
S&P MidCap 400	3,646.35	123.72	10.32%
Russell 2000	2,776.89	146.30	11.89%

International Markets

Europe

The pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 1.91%, with Germany's DAX up 3.77%. The ECB indicated it is not in a rush to raise interest rates, while the IMF trimmed its eurozone growth forecast due to geopolitical tensions.

Japan

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index gained 2.73%, reaching an all-time high. However, confidence among manufacturers dropped sharply due to the Middle East conflict.

China

China's GDP grew 5.0% in Q1, exceeding expectations, but mixed data indicated uneven growth. Trade data showed a slowdown in exports, raising concerns about external demand.

Other Key Markets

In Hungary, a political shift led to market optimism, with expectations of improved EU relations and access to frozen funds. The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has eased geopolitical tensions, positively impacting market sentiment.

Conclusion

Overall, the market sentiment has turned cautiously optimistic amid geopolitical de-escalation and positive economic indicators, although uncertainties remain in various sectors.