Latest Irish Life weekly markets update

Key talking points include:

• Equity markets continued to diverge last week, with US indices reaching fresh highs and extending their recent rally, supported by both easing geopolitical concerns and continued strength in corporate earnings, particularly within technology and semiconductor stocks. European markets edged modestly higher.
• The S&P 500 rose by 2.3% (MTD 2.3%, YTD 8.1%) while the Euro Stoxx 600 rose by 0.1% (MTD 0.1%, YTD 3.4%).
• This week, geopolitics will remain central, with ongoing US–Iran negotiations and a scheduled meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi carrying potential implications for trade and global growth. On the macro front, US inflation data will be closely watched for clues on the path of interest.