Weekly Market Summary

Edition
18 May 2026
Closing of
Fri 15 May

Major Indexes Performance

IndexClosing PriceWeekly ChangeChange as a bar2026 editions
S&P 5007,408.50-1.24%closing of Fri 02 January: 6,858.47closing of Fri 16 January: 6,940.01closing of Fri 23 January: 6,915.61closing of Fri 06 February: 6,932.30closing of Fri 13 February: 6,836.17closing of Fri 20 February: 6,909.51closing of Fri 27 February: 6,878.88closing of Fri 06 March: 6,740.02closing of Fri 13 March: 6,632.19closing of Fri 20 March: 6,506.48closing of Fri 27 March: 6,368.85closing of Fri 10 April: 6,816.89closing of Fri 17 April: 7,126.06closing of Fri 24 April: 7,165.08closing of Fri 01 May: 7,230.12closing of Fri 08 May: 7,398.93closing of Fri 15 May: 7,408.50
Dow Jones49,526.17-1.07%closing of Fri 02 January: 48,382.39closing of Fri 16 January: 49,359.33closing of Fri 23 January: 49,098.71closing of Fri 06 February: 50,115.67closing of Fri 13 February: 49,500.93closing of Fri 20 February: 49,625.97closing of Fri 27 February: 48,977.92closing of Fri 06 March: 47,501.55closing of Fri 13 March: 46,558.47closing of Fri 20 March: 45,577.47closing of Fri 27 March: 45,166.64closing of Fri 10 April: 47,916.57closing of Fri 17 April: 49,447.43closing of Fri 24 April: 49,230.71closing of Fri 01 May: 49,499.27closing of Fri 08 May: 49,609.16closing of Fri 15 May: 49,526.17
Nasdaq26,225.14-1.54%closing of Fri 02 January: 23,235.63closing of Fri 16 January: 23,515.39closing of Fri 23 January: 23,501.24closing of Fri 06 February: 23,031.21closing of Fri 13 February: 22,546.67closing of Fri 20 February: 22,886.07closing of Fri 27 February: 22,668.21closing of Fri 06 March: 22,387.68closing of Fri 13 March: 22,105.36closing of Fri 20 March: 21,647.61closing of Fri 27 March: 20,948.36closing of Fri 10 April: 22,902.89closing of Fri 17 April: 24,468.48closing of Fri 24 April: 24,836.60closing of Fri 01 May: 25,114.44closing of Fri 08 May: 26,247.08closing of Fri 15 May: 26,225.14
Euro Stoxx 505,827.76-1.81%closing of Fri 02 January: 5,850.38closing of Fri 16 January: 6,029.45closing of Fri 23 January: 5,948.20closing of Fri 06 February: 5,998.40closing of Fri 13 February: 5,985.23closing of Fri 20 February: 6,131.31closing of Fri 27 February: 6,138.41closing of Fri 06 March: 5,719.90closing of Fri 13 March: 5,716.61closing of Fri 20 March: 5,501.28closing of Fri 27 March: 5,505.80closing of Fri 10 April: 5,926.11closing of Fri 17 April: 6,057.71closing of Fri 24 April: 5,883.48closing of Fri 08 May: 5,911.53closing of Fri 15 May: 5,827.76
FTSE 10010,195.37-1.71%closing of Fri 02 January: 9,951.14closing of Fri 16 January: 10,235.29closing of Fri 23 January: 10,143.44closing of Fri 06 February: 10,369.75closing of Fri 13 February: 10,446.35closing of Fri 20 February: 10,686.89closing of Fri 27 February: 10,910.55closing of Fri 06 March: 10,284.75closing of Fri 13 March: 10,261.15closing of Fri 20 March: 9,918.33closing of Fri 27 March: 9,967.35closing of Fri 10 April: 10,600.53closing of Fri 17 April: 10,667.63closing of Fri 24 April: 10,379.08closing of Fri 01 May: 10,363.93closing of Fri 08 May: 10,233.07closing of Fri 15 May: 10,195.37
Shanghai4,135.39-1.02%closing of Fri 16 January: 4,101.91closing of Fri 23 January: 4,136.16closing of Fri 06 February: 4,065.58closing of Fri 13 February: 4,082.07closing of Fri 27 February: 4,162.88closing of Fri 06 March: 4,124.19closing of Fri 13 March: 4,095.45closing of Fri 20 March: 3,957.05closing of Fri 27 March: 3,913.72closing of Fri 03 April: 3,880.10closing of Fri 10 April: 3,986.22closing of Fri 17 April: 4,051.43closing of Fri 24 April: 4,079.90closing of Fri 08 May: 4,179.95closing of Fri 15 May: 4,135.39
MOEX Russia2,633.84-0.94%closing of Fri 16 January: 2,733.75closing of Fri 23 January: 2,777.29closing of Fri 06 February: 2,735.43closing of Fri 13 February: 2,776.34closing of Fri 20 February: 2,780.60closing of Fri 27 February: 2,799.14closing of Fri 06 March: 2,854.11closing of Fri 13 March: 2,871.86closing of Fri 20 March: 2,864.89closing of Fri 27 March: 2,789.61closing of Fri 03 April: 2,760.70closing of Fri 10 April: 2,725.39closing of Fri 17 April: 2,723.94closing of Fri 24 April: 2,733.00closing of Fri 08 May: 2,597.80closing of Fri 15 May: 2,633.84

Major Commodities Performance

CommodityClosing PriceWeekly ChangeChange as a bar2026 editions
Gold4,561.90-2.63%closing of Fri 02 January: 4,329.60closing of Fri 16 January: 4,595.40closing of Fri 23 January: 4,979.70closing of Fri 06 February: 4,979.80closing of Fri 13 February: 5,046.30closing of Fri 20 February: 5,080.90closing of Fri 27 February: 5,247.90closing of Fri 06 March: 5,158.70closing of Fri 13 March: 5,061.70closing of Fri 20 March: 4,609.60closing of Fri 27 March: 4,508.60closing of Fri 03 April: 4,702.70closing of Fri 10 April: 4,787.40closing of Fri 17 April: 4,879.60closing of Fri 24 April: 4,740.90closing of Fri 01 May: 4,644.50closing of Fri 08 May: 4,730.70closing of Fri 15 May: 4,561.90
Silver77.55-9.12%closing of Fri 02 January: 71.02closing of Fri 16 January: 88.54closing of Fri 23 January: 101.33closing of Fri 06 February: 76.90closing of Fri 13 February: 77.96closing of Fri 20 February: 82.34closing of Fri 27 February: 93.29closing of Fri 06 March: 84.31closing of Fri 13 March: 81.34closing of Fri 20 March: 69.66closing of Fri 27 March: 69.56closing of Fri 03 April: 73.17closing of Fri 10 April: 76.48closing of Fri 17 April: 81.84closing of Fri 24 April: 76.41closing of Fri 01 May: 76.43closing of Fri 08 May: 80.87closing of Fri 15 May: 77.55
Brent Oil109.263.35%closing of Fri 02 January: 60.75closing of Fri 16 January: 64.13closing of Fri 23 January: 65.07closing of Fri 06 February: 68.05closing of Fri 13 February: 67.75closing of Fri 20 February: 71.30closing of Fri 27 February: 72.48closing of Fri 06 March: 92.69closing of Fri 13 March: 103.14closing of Fri 20 March: 106.41closing of Fri 27 March: 105.32closing of Fri 10 April: 95.20closing of Fri 17 April: 90.38closing of Fri 24 April: 99.13closing of Fri 01 May: 108.17closing of Fri 08 May: 101.29closing of Fri 15 May: 109.26

Economic indicators

Unemployment rate U.S
4.3%
Core CPI U.S
325.01 - YoY
PPI U.S
149.16 - YoY
Eurozone CPI Data (Consumer Inflation)
129.43
UK CPI Data (Consumer Inflation)
139.3
European Central Bank / Interest rates
2.15%

Article summaries

  1. Federal Reserve Independence and Global Market Stability

    Global investors and central banks are closely watching the incoming U.S. Federal Reserve leadership amid concerns that political influence could begin shaping international monetary policy decisions. The discussion centers on whether the Fed’s traditional independence particularly during crises requiring global dollar liquidity could weaken under a more politically aligned framework.

    The broader issue is not only domestic interest rates, but the role of the U.S. dollar as the backbone of the global financial system. If international institutions begin doubting the neutrality of Federal Reserve actions, countries may accelerate reserve diversification strategies and reduce dependence on dollar-based financing mechanisms. The article highlights how geopolitical tensions are increasingly merging with monetary policy, creating new uncertainty for sovereign debt markets, currencies, and cross-border capital flows.

    Sourcereuters.com (opens in a new tab)
  2. AI Boom Is Becoming an Energy and Infrastructure Investment Story

    The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is reshaping not only technology markets but also the global utilities and infrastructure sectors. A proposed multi-billion-dollar merger between major U.S. power companies signals how energy demand from AI-driven data centers is becoming a defining investment trend.

    Large technology firms now require enormous electricity capacity to support advanced computing infrastructure, forcing utilities to modernize transmission systems and scale generation capabilities faster than previously anticipated. Investors are increasingly viewing energy providers, battery storage companies, and grid operators as indirect beneficiaries of the AI revolution.

    The article also points to a deeper geopolitical dimension: countries capable of securing stable power infrastructure may gain a strategic advantage in the global AI race. This convergence of technology, energy security, and capital investment could reshape industrial policy and infrastructure financing over the next decade.

    Sourcereuters.com (opens in a new tab)
  3. Central Banks Continue Expanding Gold Reserves Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

    Central banks around the world continue increasing gold purchases despite historically elevated prices, reflecting growing anxiety over geopolitical fragmentation and long-term currency risks. The trend is being driven by emerging economies seeking to reduce exposure to the U.S. dollar system while strengthening reserve assets viewed as politically neutral.

    The movement toward gold accumulation reflects broader fears surrounding sanctions, sovereign debt vulnerabilities, and geopolitical instability. Financial institutions increasingly see precious metals not merely as inflation hedges, but as strategic insurance against disruptions in global trade and payment systems.

    The article suggests that reserve diversification is becoming a structural shift rather than a temporary reaction to market volatility. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, gold is regaining importance as a tool for financial sovereignty and crisis resilience.

    Sourceminingreporters.com (opens in a new tab)

Across all three pieces, a clear theme emerges:
Geopolitics is no longer a background risk it is actively driving financial markets, fiscal policy, and corporate strategy in real time.

Reference list

  1. 1https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/world-awaits-new-fed-chairs-vision-independence-2026-05-19 (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/nextera-dominion-deal-wont-be-last-ai-power-build-out-2026-05-18 (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3https://www.miningreporters.com/noticia/news/2026/03/wgc-central-banks-gold-buying-geopolitical-risks-dedollarization (opens in a new tab)

Data sources

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