GCG Wealth Management, LLC.

Markets gave us a pretty clear signal last week… if you were willing to look past the headlines.

Early volatility was driven by geopolitics and rising oil. By midweek, the narrative shifted. Strong earnings, a steady Fed, and improving sentiment pushed markets higher to close out the week.

That shift matters.

Because when markets stop reacting to noise and start responding to fundamentals, it tends to create a healthier backdrop for long-term investors.

In this week’s Market News & Insights, we break down:
• What actually drove last week’s market moves
• Why April marked a major momentum shift
• What economic data and earnings to watch next
• And where investor focus is heading from here

Take a look →

Markets closed near record highs last week, but underneath the surface, the data tells a more complicated story.
A few headlines worth a closer look:

- S&P 500 and NASDAQ hit fresh highs, while the Dow slipped slightly
- Retail sales surged 1.7% in March (the biggest jump in over a year)
- Consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level on record
- Oil climbed as ~20% of global energy flows remain disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz

With the FOMC decision, Q1 GDP, and the PCE inflation report all hitting this week, there's a lot to watch.

For the full breakdown from Osaic Research, give this week's Market View a read
🔗 https://research.osaic.com/insights/week-of-apr-24-2026

Market View: Week of Apr. 24, 2026 — Osaic Research Rising energy prices from the Iran conflict are fueling inflation and could delay rate cuts, weighing on both stocks and bonds. While markets remain near highs, sustained oil prices raise risks of slower growth, margin pressure, and increased volatility

A week that started with uncertainty ended with resilience.

Markets reacted sharply to geopolitical tensions, then rebounded as earnings and fundamentals took back control.

When headlines fade, what’s left is what matters most.

A quick breakdown of what moved markets and what we’re watching now ↓

A big 401(k) balance can feel reassuring… until the market drops 10% the month you retire.

That's called sequence-of-returns risk, and it's one of the most overlooked threats to a retirement plan. It means that when losses happen matters just as much as how much you've saved. A downturn in your first few years of retirement can permanently reduce how long your money lasts, even if the market recovers later.

With elevated volatility in today's markets, it's a timely reminder: a strong balance is just the starting point. What really protects your retirement is a plan that accounts for how you'll draw income, manage taxes, and weather periods exactly like this one.

That's the work your advisor is doing behind the scenes, so you don't have to watch the market and wonder.
If you have questions about your retirement income plan, reach out to your GCG Wealth Management. That's what we're here for.

Stocks surged last week as optimism grew around easing geopolitical tensions and a return to normal global trade. Major indexes posted strong gains, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting record highs and momentum staying firmly “risk-on” heading into the week.

Markets are starting to shift.
Recent volatility has been driven by headlines, but we’re beginning to see a move back toward fundamentals as conditions stabilize.

So what drove this week’s rebound, and what should investors watch next?

Our latest Market News & Insights breaks it down.

This chart shows how each of the largest tech-focused companies (the “Mag 7”) has impacted the S&P 500 so far this year, compared to the other 493 stocks in the index.
What this means for investors:
A small group of companies is having a big influence on overall market returns. That creates both opportunity and risk.
• When these large companies perform well, they can drive strong market gains, even if many other stocks are flat or down.
• But the opposite is also true: if these few names struggle, they can weigh heavily on the entire index.
• This means the “market return” may not always reflect how the average stock is performing.
Bottom line:
Market concentration makes it even more important to stay diversified and understand what’s really driving returns, not just rely on headline index performance.

It was a volatile start to the week… and a strong finish.

Markets rebounded, sentiment improved, and economic data came in stronger than expected, but that doesn’t mean uncertainty is behind us.

In this week’s update, we break down what changed, what didn’t, and what investors should actually be paying attention to.

Wishing you a Happy Easter from GCG Wealth Management. We hope your day brings a little rest, a little joy, and time well spent.

If you've been watching the news and wondering what it means for your portfolio, this is worth a few minutes of your time.

First Trust put together a historical look at how markets have performed through wars, geopolitical shocks, and moments that felt like the world was falling apart. The pattern is more consistent than most people expect.

For informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.