Weekly Market Insights | Peace Talks and Moonshot IPO Rescue the Week

Weekly Market Insights | Peace Talks and Moonshot IPO Rescue the Week

June 15, 2026

Stocks moved higher last week as inflation jitters gave way to investor enthusiasm over Middle East diplomatic efforts and the largest-ever initial public offering (IPO).

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.70%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.66%. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.92%.1,2

War, Peace & Space

The S&P 500 index rose 0.7% this week as the US edged closer to signing a peace deal with Iran and consumer and wholesale price inflation reports that leaned dovish. The market benchmark ended the week at 7,431.46. The index is now up 14% quarter-to-date and 8.6% so far in the year.

The US and Iran may sign a peace deal as soon as Sunday, setting the stage for a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple media reports.

While President Donald Trump fumed at Tehran for the inaccurate state media descriptions of a potential interim US-Iran agreement, Iran's foreign minister reportedly said a deal had been reached "on a majority of issues" and negotiators are in the final stage of internal deliberatioins.

The core Producer Price Index grew slower than forecast in May on a month-over-month and a year-earlier basis. The core Consumer Price Index also came in cooler than expected on a monthly basis while the year-earlier print was in line. While year-over-year inflation rose to a 3-year high due to higher energy prices, Wall Street found some silver linings in the May report. First, investors saw this coming. The 4.2 percent “headline” inflation matched market expectations, so the news was welcomed. Second, core inflation rose 2.9 percent over the prior 12 months, in line with forecasts.

Third, month-over-month CPI cooled slightly, giving investors hope that energy prices may have peaked.8

The probability of 25-basis-point increases in September, October, and December was lower on Friday than a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The Fed is widely expected to remain on hold in June and July.

The materials sector rose the most this week, up 3%, followed by a 2.6% gain in consumer staples and a 2% rise in financials.

Shares of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) ended the week 7.2% higher at $78.27, the fifth-biggest gainer in materials. Benchmark initiated the company with a buy rating and a $100 price target. Late last month, International Flavors & Fragrances agreed to sell a majority stake in its food ingredients unit to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth roughly $4.3 billion.

Casey's General Stores (CASY) shares surged more than 17% this week, the top performer in consumer staples, after the convenience store operator reported better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results.

The two S&P 500 sectors that declined this week were communication services and energy.

Meta Platforms (META) completed an operational separation from AI startup Manus and cut off data sharing amid pressure from Chinese authorities to reverse the $2 billion deal, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) unit Google's YouTube and Meta (META) were denied a new trial after a jury found that the companies were liable for designing social media platforms that are addictive to young people, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Shares of Meta and Alphabet were down 4.4% and 2.4%, respectively, this week, among the steepest decliners in communication services.

SpaceX (SPCX) essentially hit all the targets they were aiming for with a widely successful IPO on Friday, making Elon Must the worlds first Trillinaire. In early trade on June 15th, the stock is up +7.74% as of 11am EST trading around $172 to $173 per share. The trading was orderly on Friday and this morning and expect the company to be added to the Nasdaq Composite in the coming weeks as well as to the S&P 500 in December. Moreover, expectations should be that the company's stock price should have volatility (move around quite a bit) and likelly retest the $135.00 to $150.00 IPO trading ranges in the coming months once the company has to report earnings and insiders are unlocked to sell their long-held, low-cost basis positions.  For the forseeable future, there should continue to be high demand for SpaceX stock. It is an exciting time for the company, markets, and investors. 

Source: YCharts.com, June 13, 2026. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points.

This Week: Key Economic Data

Monday: Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization.

Tuesday: Import Prices. Housing Starts. Building Permits.

Wednesday: Retail Sales. Pending Home Sales. Home Builder Confidence Index. Business Inventories. FOMC Interest Rate Decision. Fed Chair Warsh Press Conference.

Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. 

Friday: The Stock Market will be closed for the Juneteenth Holiday.

Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; June 12, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Thursday: Accenture (ACN) 

Source: Zacks, June 12, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

– Aristotle

Protect Your Tax Data

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shared guidelines for tax pros to protect taxpayer data, but these principles are sound for everyone to follow.

Antivirus software: This software scans computer files for malicious software (malware) on the device. Antivirus vendors find new issues and update malware daily. Always install the latest software updates on your computer.

Two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of protection beyond just a password. Not only do you enter your username and password, but you also enter a security code that the service provider can send to another device for extra protection.

Drive encryption: Encrypts sensitive data into unreadable code that unauthorized users cannot easily decipher, so only authorized users can access it. 

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult with a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific tax issues.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov9

Skincare Tips

The first and most important tip is always to wear sunscreen, even if you spend little time in the sun. Some skincare products, including makeup, contain sunscreen, but you should also consider using a moisturizer with at least SPF 30 for extra protection. 

Another tip is to lighten up your skincare routine. If you're spending time outside exerting yourself, you might not need as much makeup or products as you do for indoor activities.

Tip adapted from Allure10

Your mother’s brother’s only brother-in-law is taking a picture of you. How is he more closely related to you?

Last Week's Riddle: On a summer day, two fathers and two sons went fishing, and each one of them caught one fish. Why did they return home with just three fish?

Answer: Because it was a grandfather, a father, and a son who went fishing.

A tower of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis)

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Footnotes And Sources

1. WSJ.com, June 12, 2026
2. Investing.com, June 12, 2026
3. CNBC.com, June 8, 2026
4. CNBC.com, June 9, 2026
5. WSJ.com, June 10, 2026
6. CNBC.com, June 11, 2026
7. CNBC.com, June 12, 2026
8. WSJ.com, June 10, 2026 
9. IRS.gov, December 4, 2025
10. Allure.com, February 23, 2026 

11. MT Newsires, YCharts.com June 8 -12, 2026

Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.

The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.

The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the Nasdaq stock market and considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.

Please consult your financial professional for additional information.

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG is not affiliated with the named representative, financial professional, Registered Investment Advisor, Broker-Dealer, nor state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and they should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

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