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Weekly Update for the week ending July 17, 2026

Why Interest Rates Impact Some Stocks More Than Others
After better-than-expected inflation reports helped push markets higher, technology stocks led the charge while more defensive sectors lagged. The difference comes down to a key investing concept: some stocks are far more sensitive to changes in interest rate expectations than others.

In this week’s update, I explain why growth stocks like Nvidia often react differently than dividend-paying companies like utilities, and how Fed policy influences investor behaviour.

Weekly Update for the week ending July 3, 2026

AI Spending: When Hype Meets Reality

AI stocks have been back in focus, but not for the reasons that drove their earlier surge. After pushing to fresh highs, parts of the sector have started to cool as investors take a closer look at what’s actually fuelling the rally beneath the surface. The story is shifting from pure excitement around artificial intelligence to something more grounded – the rising cost of building it.

What was once framed as a software-driven revolution is increasingly looking like an infrastructure buildout, with massive spending going into chips, data centres, networking, and energy systems. That shift is starting to raise new questions about funding, profitability, and how long this level of investment can realistically continue without more pressure on balance sheets.

This week I discuss what’s driving the latest move in AI-linked stocks, why spending has become the central theme, and how that ripple effect is starting to show up across the broader market.

Monthly Portfolio Update May 2026

Historically, May through October is a weaker period for markets, averaging gains of around 2% compared to roughly 7% from November through April. However, May got off to a strong start as the S&P 500 (S&P) and Nasdaq Composite (Nasdaq) both reached record highs in the opening week. While the rest of the month wasn’t a straight shot higher, the rally continued. The S&P broke above 7,500 for the first time, the tech-heavy Nasdaq crossed both the 25,000 and 26,000 milestones, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) climbed above 50,000 before ending May with its first-ever close above 51,000.

Weekly Update for the week ending May 15, 2026

One of the hardest parts of investing isn’t deciding what to buy – it’s knowing when to sell. This week let’s take a closer look at the often-overlooked “other side” of investing and the reasons long-term investors sometimes decide to move on from a stock. From changing company fundamentals and stretched valuations to shifting goals and better opportunities elsewhere and explain why selling doesn’t always mean you made a mistake.

Weekly Update for the week ending May 8, 2026

Earnings season is giving investors a fresh look under the hood of the companies driving the markets. With roughly 20 holdings across my three portfolios reporting results this past week alone, the focus has shifted from headlines to fundamentals. Strong reports from major technology companies like NASD:AAPL continue lifting both individual stocks and the broader market, while weaker guidance can quickly shift sentiment the other way. This week’s commentary looks at what earnings reports really tell investors, what I focus on when analyzing them, and how the latest results helped shape the markets this week.

Weekly Update for the week ending May 1, 2026

Rising oil prices have been one of the biggest stories in the markets recently, driven by the US/Israel-Iran conflict and shifting supply dynamics. This week, a major development – the UAE’s decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+ – adds another layer of uncertainty, with potential implications for inflation, interest rates, and the direction of markets.