Your Weekly Market Wrap-Up

15th June - 19th June 2026

Global Highlights

U.S. Markets

Most major U.S. stock indexes ended the week higher, supported by news that the U.S. and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding, which helped push oil prices lower. The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged, while short-term Treasury yields rose as markets began to price in the possibility of rate hikes later this year.

European Markets

European indexes also finished higher, encouraged by the U.S.–Iran agreement. The Bank of England left its base rate unchanged at 3.75% at its Monetary Policy Committee meeting, while UK annual inflation remained steady at 2.8%, its lowest level since March 2025

Asian Markets

Japan’s stock market surged to an all-time high after the agreement, which was welcomed by the Japanese PM as a major step toward resolving the situation. The Bank of Japan raised its short-term policy rate by 25 basis points to 1%, while Chinese equities were mixed as May data pointed to continued resilience in industrial and export-oriented sectors.

Weekly Spotlights

The Federal Open Market Committee’s first meeting under Chair Kevin Warsh was best described as a hawkish pause. While holding rates steady for a fourth consecutive meeting was widely expected, markets focused on the updated economic projections, the revised policy statement, and Warsh’s tone during his first press conference as chair.

Market Performance

Weekly market performance by asset
Asset Name	Weekly Closing Level	Weekly % Return
S&P 500	7,500.58	0.93%
DJIA (Dow Jones)	51,564.70	0.71%
Nasdaq Composite	26,517.93	2.43%
Nikkei 225	71,250.06	7.92%
FTSE 100	10,363.27	-1.04%
Shanghai Composite	4,090.48	1.46%
Sensex (BSE)	76,802.90	1.69%
ADX Index (UAE)	10,113.48	3.15%
Gold	4,172.90	-1.55%
Brent Oil (USD/bbl)	80.57	-7.74%

Outlook

Although a higher-for-longer interest-rate environment could create valuation headwinds for equities, we believe resilient consumer spending, healthy corporate balance sheets, and continued earnings growth should help offset the impact of higher discount rates. In addition, ongoing investment in AI remains a supportive driver for economic activity and corporate profitability. However, monetary policy uncertainty is likely to remain a source of market volatility, particularly as investors reassess the path of inflation and the potential for future rate changes. Geopolitical developments, energy prices, and policy decisions could also contribute to periodic market swings. Overall, we recommend remaining invested and focused on long-term fundamentals. In this environment, maintaining a diversified portfolio across asset classes, sectors, and regions is likely to be more effective than attempting to time short-term market movements.

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Disclaimer

This commentary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. For detailed insights, contact our investment team.