Investors faced one of the most turbulent quarters in recent memory during Q1 2026. The year began with optimism, but markets were soon affected by the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, a historic surge in oil prices, significant movements in bonds and currencies, and the rapidly growing impact of artificial intelligence. In the sections below, we recount the story of Q1 2026 in ten charts, from the initial equity rally to the lasting opportunities in fixed income.
Ceasefire diplomacy, market reactions and investment implications
Think The Big Short but for AI, JPMorgan just launched the AI Hyperscaler Credit Default Swaps Basket, a one-click trade to short the debt of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle. As these tech giants ramp up borrowing to finance massive data center buildouts, Wall Street is effectively offering the same instrument Michael Burry used in 2008 to bet against credit risk.
March saw the biggest monthly drop for global stocks, 2026 is oil’s worst start in 30 years, and traders pile $977m into leveraged bets on a sharp oil plunge. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.
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Think The Big Short but for AI, JPMorgan just launched the AI Hyperscaler Credit Default Swaps Basket, a one-click trade to short the debt of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle. As these tech giants ramp up borrowing to finance massive data center buildouts, Wall Street is effectively offering the same instrument Michael Burry used in 2008 to bet against credit risk.
The Strait of Hormuz turns a regional tension into a global energy crisis. A single chokepoint can move oil, freight, and investor sentiment in the same day. A problem that starts locally can quickly ripple across financial markets and global geopolitics. That is why the Strait of Hormuz matters far beyond the Gulf.
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U.S. stock indexes recorded solid gains for the 2nd week in a row as signs of de-escalating conflict in the Middle East and a subsequent drop in oil prices boosted investor sentiment. Enthusiasm around artificial intelligence-linked stocks also served as a tailwind for parts of the market. Additional reports suggesting talks involving Israel and Lebanon also appeared to support equities late in the week, although overall uncertainty remained elevated heading into the weekend. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed (+4.68% over the week). Within the S&P 500 Index, energy was the only sector to post negative returns. On the macro side, US CPI growth (March) accelerated amid surging energy costs but came in below estimates.
Investors faced one of the most turbulent quarters in recent memory during Q1 2026. The year began with optimism, but markets were soon affected by the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, a historic surge in oil prices, significant movements in bonds and currencies, and the rapidly growing impact of artificial intelligence. In the sections below, we recount the story of Q1 2026 in ten charts, from the initial equity rally to the lasting opportunities in fixed income.
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