Market Week: May 18, 2026

The Markets (as of market close May 15, 2026)

Two hotter-than-expected inflation reports and a lack of progress in negotiations to end the war in Iran created havoc in some corners of the financial markets last week. Oil prices surged again while the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, disrupting the world's supply of essential crude. The S&P 500 reached record highs on Thursday before tumbling on Friday, but still managed to eke out its seventh straight week of gains. Energy was the top-performing market sector last week, followed by consumer staples, while consumer cyclicals and real estate were the laggards. The small caps of the Russell 2000 snapped their multi-week winning streak. Friday's global bond market sell-off propelled the yield on long bonds (30-year Treasuries) to its highest level since June of 2007 (5.16%). Yields above 5.0% have been somewhat of a danger zone for borrowing costs in the past. The benchmark 10-year Treasury ended the week at its highest level in more than a year.

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Wendy Nelson, CEO of Wind River Wealth Advisors, aims to provide comprehensive investment management, retirement planning, financial planning, asset management, and portfolio management services to protect your money with knowledgeable strategies and plans, guided by a personal, independent financial advisor.