Ceasefire diplomacy, market reactions and investment implications

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.

Major U.S. equity indexes ended the week higher, supported by tentative signs of easing tensions in the Middle East. The Nasdaq Composite led gains, marking its strongest weekly performance since November, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.36% and 2.96%, respectively. Small-cap stocks also delivered solid returns. After a weak start on Monday, markets rallied sharply midweek as President Trump signaled a potential pullback in U.S. military involvement in Iran. However, sentiment briefly faltered following a Wednesday night address that lacked a clear de-escalation timeline, lifting oil prices and pressuring equities early Thursday.

New highs in oil prices and softer economic data weighed on fixed income markets, as concerns about slowing growth began to balance ongoing inflation fears.

Meanwhile, hedging allows oil producers to lock in profits. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

U.S. equity indexes finished a volatile, headline-driven week mixed, as a relatively light economic calendar left investors largely focused on shifting geopolitical developments, oil price volatility, and continued pressure on large-cap technology stocks. Equities rallied to start the week amid optimism that the conflict in the Middle East could de-escalate. However, sentiment deteriorated through the end of the week, as conflicting headlines appeared to undermine confidence in a near-term resolution. Ultimately, the Russell 2000 index closed the week higher, snapping a four-week losing streak, while the S&P 500 Index, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all finished lower for the fifth week in a row. Large-cap value stocks outperformed their growth counterparts for the third consecutive week.

The oil price shock continues to feed through global rate level and monetary policy expectations, while credit markets show resilience.

Meanwhile, precious metals are plummeting. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

U.S. equity indexes finished lower in a volatile week shaped by geopolitical tensions and resulting volatility in oil prices, persistent inflation concerns, and a somewhat hawkish interpretation of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy signals. The Dow Jones fared worst, declining 2.11%, followed by the Nasdaq, which shed 2.07%. The S&P MidCap 400 Index held up best but still fell 1.34%. Within the S&P 500 Index, energy was the best-performing sector by a wide margin as oil prices moved higher amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Middle East supply risks. U.S. Treasury yields also mostly moved higher amid the heightened uncertainty, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rising to around 4.38% as of Friday afternoon.

War, oil shocks, and market volatility—normally a perfect storm for gold. Yet prices have collapsed. The answer lies not in fear, but in the mechanics of global reserve flows.