Summary

• A surprise U.S.-Iran peace framework sent oil prices sharply lower, easing inflation fears and fueling a powerful rally in technology, consumer discretionary, airlines, and other economically sensitive sectors.
• The Federal Reserve held rates steady, but new Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a distinctly hawkish message that pushed Treasury yields higher and forced investors to reassess expectations for future rate cuts.
• Semiconductor, infrastructure, and AI-related companies remained at the center of market leadership as investors focused on growing demand for chips, memory, networking equipment, and data center capacity.

By Ryan J. Puplava

Peace Dividend Ignites Risk Appetite

Markets began the holiday-shortened week with a dramatic shift in investor sentiment after President Trump announced a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at ending hostilities, reopening