FINANCIAL BLOG

Outside of energy commodities, capital markets posted a downbeat March as cross-asset volatility spiked in response to the outbreak of hostilities in the Mideast, and kicked off April in similar, choppy fashion before posting a swift bounce following last Wednesday’s two-week ceasefire agreement. While a positive breakthrough, it may still be a little too early to sound the ‘all clear’ as the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.

LPL Research provides its Weekly Market Performance for the week of April 6, 2026. Markets rebounded during the first full week of April as easing geopolitical tensions drove a broad risk‑on rally across global assets. U.S. and international equities advanced on optimism surrounding a temporary U.S.–Iran ceasefire and cooling energy prices, while fixed income markets found support amid a mixed, but reassuring slate of Treasury auctions.

As strikes on Iran continue and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, it’s clearly too early for market watchers to stop thinking about geopolitical risk. As discussed in recent commentaries but worth repeating, history shows stocks often recover quickly from wars and other military engagements, especially when economies are resilient and earnings fundamentals remain strong.