Wall Street had a wild week, but things ended on a high note. Even with scary headlines about Iran and President Trump’s big national address, two main U.S. stock indexes finished the week in the green. It seems investors are trying to look past the war for a moment and focus on the health of the domestic economy.
The S&P 500 led the way, finishing the week up 1.6%. The Dow followed with a 1.2% gain, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 2.2%. While these numbers look good for the week, the markets are still down for the year. Everyone is still trying to figure out how the conflict will hit the global economy long-term.
The biggest shock came from Friday’s jobs report. Economists expected only 65,000 new jobs in March, but the economy added 178,000. This was a huge turnaround from February’s job losses. It shows that even with global chaos, American businesses are still hiring people at a decent pace.
Experts say this report brings a sense of “balance.” Hiring is strong enough that there’s no immediate panic, but the general trend is still cooling down. This likely means the Federal Reserve won’t feel rushed to cut interest rates just yet, which is something investors watch very closely.
Next week will be another big test for the market. We are getting new reports on consumer spending and inflation. These “PCE” and “CPI” numbers show exactly how much more we are paying for groceries and gas. If inflation stays too high, it could easily wipe out the gains we saw this week.
On the business side, all eyes are on Delta Air Lines. Their earnings report on Wednesday will be a major reality check. Since the war started, jet fuel prices have gone through the roof. If Delta struggles because of high oil costs, it is a bad sign for the whole travel industry.
We will also hear from brands like Levi Strauss and Constellation Brands. These reports show how regular people are spending their money while a war is going on. If people are still buying jeans and drinks, it suggests the U.S. consumer is holding up well despite the high cost of living.
