Latest Irish Life weekly markets update

Key talking points include:

• Markets came under renewed pressure in a volatile week as investors focused on shifting geopolitical developments, oil price volatility and continued pressure on large-cap technology stocks.
• US market volatility continued to weigh more heavily on growth stocks than on their value counterparts. A growth stock benchmark fell 3.4% for the week while its value counterpart slipped just 0.5%. On a year-to-date basis, growth was down almost 13% versus a fractional gain for value.
• The S&P 500 fell by 2.1% (MTD -7.4%, YTD -6.9%) while the Euro Stoxx 600 rose by 0.4% (MTD -9.2%, YTD -2.8%).
• This week, markets will continue to watch developments in the Middle East for signs of a diplomatic solution ahead of President Trump's 6th April deadline. Economic data is light in a shortened week but US employment and Eurozone inflation data may be of interest.