Month: July 2026

Markets Navigate Oil Spike and Tech Earnings Pressure

Both the equity and fixed income markets were volatile last week due to higher oil prices and concerns over the ongoing large capex spending by some of the mega technology companies.

Oil prices surged last week as the U.S. continued its strikes on Iran — heightening supply fears again — while Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. WTI crude oil prices surpassed resistance in the $80–$85 per barrel range, climbing as high as $93. However, with the prospect of negotiations, oil prices have collapsed and are trading in the low 80s.

Earnings also contributed to volatility within the equity market as both Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) announced continued heavy spending on capex, which is weighing on quarterly free cash flow. Investors now head into a heavy slate of earnings and central bank decisions with risk levels elevated and volatility likely to remain high as rotation continues across the equity market.

2-Year Treasury Yield Rises To Test Resistance

With higher oil prices raising concerns over inflation, the market has pushed interest rates higher. The 2-Year Treasury yield has retraced roughly 50% of its previous decline and is now testing resistance at 4.3%. If that level holds, the yield could retreat toward 4.0%. A decisive break above 4.3% would open the door to a move toward 4.8%–5.0%. Such a move would likely rattle the equity markets and extend the current correction.

10-Year Treasury Yield Also Testing Key Resistance

The 10-Year Treasury yield is testing key resistance near 4.8%–5.0%. We believe that if the strikes on Iran subside and oil prices decline, this test should prove successful. However, if the attacks continue and oil prices push higher, the risk is that yields could move higher.

S&P 500 Approaching Oversold: Needs To Rally

The S&P 500 is approaching oversold levels, but it needs to respond to prevent another down leg. Without a positive response, the Bears are likely to remain in control.

Nasdaq 100 With A Bearish Top

The Nasdaq 100 appears to have formed a top with risk of a deeper correction. The Semiconductors have the same pattern. We did highlight in our Mid-Year Outlook that the Bucking Bull would return. Without a rally soon, the risk is the correction in Technology will continue because the Nasdaq 100 is heavily weighted in Tech.

Tech Earnings Spotlight AI Capex Spending and Cash-Flow Concerns

Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) both reported second-quarter results that triggered sharp share-price declines despite underlying positive data. Tesla posted strong revenue growth, but adjusted earnings came in below consensus as profit margins declined, and the company generated negative free cash flow. Alphabet delivered solid revenue growth, beat earnings forecasts, led by strong results in Google Cloud, but raised its 2026 capital-expenditure forecast above expectations and also reported negative free cash flow for the first time.

Market reaction showed investors are increasingly focused on the scale of spending and concerned about free cash flow. The continued high capex spending shows the deep competition among the big Tech companies. They are operating in an environment where the winner takes all, and all are trying to be number one.

Competition Heats Up

Competition is heating up. Moonshot AI, a Chinese AI company, recently introduced its Kimi K3 large language model, which has drawn substantial attention as a potential challenger to U.S. frontier AI models such as Anthropic’s Claude. Reports indicate Kimi used high-end Nvidia chips — despite export restrictions — and relied on distillation (a machine learning technique where a large, complex teacher model trains a smaller, efficient student model to mimic its behavior) of existing U.S. models, following a path similar to DeepSeek 18 months ago. It is also expected that the Kimi K3 model learned and trained using the Claude LLM model without permission.

On a positive note, Intel (INTC) provided optimism last Thursday when it reported earnings that beat estimates on major fundamental metrics. Overall, the week reinforced that volatility remains within the major Technology companies, especially in semiconductors and technology hardware.

Rails Catch Ride On Consolidation Progress

Union Pacific (UNP), Norfolk Southern (NSC) and CSX (CSX) all advanced sharply last week. The catalyst was an agreement in which Canadian National Railway (CNI) said it would not oppose Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern also beat second-quarter profit estimates, while CSX raised its margin outlook and reported strong volumes.

These Rail stocks rose on the news, standing out against a weaker broader market. Their move signals that investors see tangible progress on consolidation and solid underlying demand in the rail sector. Railroads are a cyclical industry, and their strength suggests cyclical sectors remain well supported. It is also a sign that the economy is growing.

We remain positive on the Industrials sector where the Rails are positioned. This offers a reminder that selective industrial strength can appear even when headline indexes are under pressure. Sector rotation is keeping the equity market in a bullish pattern — at least for now.

Key Macro & Market Trends & The Great Wealth Transfer: How Big Is It Really?

Estimates of the coming intergenerational wealth transfer vary widely. Cerulli Associates projects that older generations will pass more than $100 trillion to heirs in the decades ahead. A more recent study from Visa puts the figure for Baby Boomer wealth transferred to Gen X and Millennials over the next 20 years at roughly $36 trillion.

The difference is large, yet both numbers point to a substantial shift of assets. For investors, this matters because the recipients are likely to reallocate portfolios, increase demand for advice, and influence long-term flows into equities and other risk assets. While the exact size remains debated, the direction of the transfer is clear and will unfold over many years.

Presidential Cycle Average Returns

Average equity returns across the four-year presidential cycle since 1952 show that performance so far in the current presidential term through the end of June 2026 is well above average performance for the mid-term year.

Japan Trade Data Shows Resilient Demand

Japan reported that both exports and imports grew in June at the fastest pace since November 2022, beating estimates. Exports rose sharply, helped by semiconductor shipments tied to artificial intelligence and data center demand. Imports also increased, driven in part by higher energy costs.

The figures point to continued underlying demand for Japanese goods and recovery in its economy. We believe these trends offer a constructive signal for trade and technology-related supply chains, supporting the broader global growth narrative.

Defense Stocks Remain Attractive

European defense stocks continued to draw investor interest last week on the back of ongoing rearmament efforts. Rheinmetall (RHM, Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse) is expanding gunpowder and ammunition capacity as Europe races to replenish stockpiles. The broader sector, including names such as Dassault Systèmes (DSY, Euronext Paris), Thales (HO, Euronext Paris), and Indra Sistemas (IDR, Bolsa de Madrid), has also benefited from the same multi-year spending push.

At the same time, U.S. defense manufacturers have been directed by the Trump Administration to increase production and replenish stockpiles of munitions expended in Ukraine and Iran. The dual pressure of European rearmament and U.S. replenishment creates a supportive backdrop for the sector on both sides of the Atlantic.

For investors, this remains a structural theme rather than a short-term trade. Spending commitments are multi-year, order backlogs are strong, and selective opportunities continue to exist even after the strong gains of recent years.

Sector Readings & Rankings

Energy was strongest last week, followed by Information Technology, then Industrials; this is the same order as the prior week. Technology is weakening, signaling a correction is in place. Consumer Discretionary was in last place, followed by Communication Services, then Consumer Staples.

Our sector model analyzes S&P 500 GICS sector classifications, using a weighted measure of price momentum across three time periods. We rank each sector from best to worst based upon the average of its 40-, 26-, and 13-week relative price performances. We rank each sector from 1 to 11, with 1 being the strongest and 11 the weakest.

Sector	Jul 24	Jul 17	Jul 10	Jul 3	Jun 26	Jun 19	Jun 12	Jun 5
Energy	1	1	2	5	3	5	2	2
Information Technology	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1
Industrials	3	3	3	2	2	2	3	3
Healthcare	4	4	4	3	5	10	8	7
Real Estate	5	5	5	6	7	6	9	5
Financials	6	6	9	8	9	9	11	11
Materials	7	7	7	4	6	4	4	4
Utilities	8	10	10	10	4	11	5	10
Consumer Staples	9	8	8	7	8	7	7	8
Communication Services	10	9	6	9	10	3	6	6
Consumer Discretionary	11	11	11	11	11	8	10	9

Overbought / Oversold (OBOS) Sector Analysis

Healthcare was overbought last week, followed by Financials and Industrials as near overbought. Technology is correcting. Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services were oversold, while Materials and Consumer Staples were near oversold. We note that Consumer Discretionary was unusually oversold.

Our tactical sector rotation model uses the S&P 500 GICS sector classifications. We apply a 13-week rate of change methodology that normalizes the rankings from overbought (OB) to oversold (OS).

Rank	S&P Sector	Normalized Oscillator	Status
1	Healthcare	1.4363	Overbought
2	Financials	0.9724	Near Overbought
3	Industrials	0.6014	Near Overbought
4	Information Technology	0.3430	Neutral
5	Real Estate	0.3115	Neutral
6	Energy	0.1813	Neutral
7	Utilities	-0.3420	Neutral
8	Consumer Staples	-0.7405	Near Oversold
9	Materials	-0.8667	Near Oversold
10	Communication Services	-1.6772	Oversold
11	Consumer Discretionary	-2.5622	Oversold

Earnings, Data, And Rates, Oh My!

This week draws major earnings, key inflation data, and rate decisions from 3 global central banks. Buckle up!

This is the biggest week for second-quarter earnings with a third of the S&P 500 companies reporting. This also brings a dense cluster of policy decisions and data. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announces its rate decision on Wednesday, followed by the Bank of England on Thursday and the Bank of Japan on Thursday night into Friday. On Thursday, the June Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index will be released.

Earnings season continues with reports from major companies including Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), ExxonMobil (XOM), and Chevron (CVX).

Expect increased levels of volatility this week as the Bull is expected to Buck. Remain Fearless.

Weekly Calendar (July 27–31, 2026)

Day	Economic Data / Events	Earnings Highlights
Mon (Jul 27)	8:30 AM Durable Goods	Universal Health
Tue (Jul 28)	8:30 AM Advance Economic Indicators Report, Wholesale Inventories, Retail Inventories 9:00 AM S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index 10:00 AM Conference Board Consumer Confidence	Invesco
Wed (Jul 29)	2:00 PM U.S. Interest Rate Decision (FOMC)	Ares Capital, UBS, Microsoft, Meta Platforms
Thu (Jul 30)	8:30 AM Advance Estimate GDP, Weekly Jobless Claims, Personal Income, Consumer Spending, PCE Price Index	Apple, Amazon
Fri (Jul 31)	8:30 AM Employment Cost Index 9:45 AM Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) 10:00 AM U.S. Michigan Final Consumer Survey	Chevron

Disclosures & Disclaimer

Sanctuary makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein. Any forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to change without notice. The information is based upon data available to the public and is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy any securities mentioned herein. Any investment discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Investors must make their own decisions based on their specific investment objectives and financial circumstances. Investments are subject to risk, including but not limited to market and interest rate fluctuations. Any performance data represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Prices/yields/figures mentioned herein are as of the date noted unless indicated otherwise. All figures subject to market fluctuation and change. Additional information available upon request.

Comments regarding cryptocurrencies or cryptocurrency-based securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any cryptocurrency-related product. These products involve significant risks, including high price volatility, evolving regulations, limited market liquidity, and vulnerability to fraud and cyberattacks.

Securities offered through Sanctuary Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through the SEC registered investment advisers Sanctuary Advisors, LLC and tru Independence. Sanctuary Wealth consists of the wholly owned subsidiaries: Sanctuary Advisors LLC, Sanctuary Securities, Inc., and tru Independence, as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Family Office.

U.S. Markets Navigate Mixed Signals In A Volatile Week

Last week, markets endured a mixed bag of softer inflation data, hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) commentary, strong bank earnings, rising oil prices amid Iran tensions, and continued rotation out of Semiconductor chip stocks.

While we expect near-term choppiness to persist, we believe that patient investors will be supported by underlying earnings resilience and ongoing, long-term secular trends.

Softer Inflation Data

The June Consumer Price Index (CPI)—a key government measure of the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services—came in significantly weaker than expected by economists. This cooler reading helped push Treasury yields lower, lifting bond prices, which generally translates into reduced borrowing costs for mortgages, corporate loans, and other forms of debt. Lower yields can support stock valuations and interest rate-sensitive sectors in the near term.

The Producer Price Index (PPI)—which measures changes in the prices producers receive for their goods and services—also came in below expectations, reinforcing the disinflationary signal from the CPI. These data points should give the Fed more flexibility on policy timing—including potential rate cuts later this year. While Fed rhetoric remains cautious, the data gives policymakers greater flexibility and leaves the door open to a range of interest rate outcomes in the second half of the year.

Warsh Congressional Testimony: Hawkish Tone

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a notably hawkish message in his congressional testimony, stressing that inflation has remained too high for too long and rejecting any idea that the softer CPI signaled “mission accomplished” on reducing it. Warsh’s tone matched his comments during his first Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. So far, investors have been encouraged by Warsh’s firm stance on inflation.

Interest Rate Expectations

Markets began last week pricing in meaningful odds of a rate hike at the late-July FOMC meeting. After the softer inflation data was released, those expectations dropped sharply, with the probability of a near-term hike falling to roughly 10% by last Thursday’s close.

Strong Bank Earnings Underpin Financials

Last week, major U.S. banks kicked off the second-quarter earnings season with impressive results, as all eight large institutions in the S&P 500 index that reported beat Wall Street earnings expectations.

Firms such as Goldman Sachs (GS) posted record revenue from equity trading, investment banking, and initial public offerings (IPOs), while Bank of America (BAC) and others showed healthy gains in lending as well as investment banking activities. These beats reflect resilient consumer spending, steady loan demand in a higher-rate environment, and strong performance in capital markets businesses, including IPOs. (Remember, many of the banks recently raised their dividends.)

These strong bank earnings offer reassurance about the underlying strength of the economy and our bullish outlook for the Banks sector overall. While near-term volatility from interest-rate uncertainty and geopolitical risks remains, these results underscore the sector’s ability to generate solid returns.

Oil Rises On Iran Tensions But Hits Resistance

Oil prices posted solid weekly gains last week amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, where U.S. strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz have once again raised supply concerns. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil—the primary U.S. oil benchmark—has climbed into the upper $70s to low $80s per barrel.

There is significant resistance in the $80–$85 per barrel range for WTI, and so far, the commodity has respected this level without breaking higher on a sustained basis. Higher oil prices support energy stocks, but they do feed into broader inflation worries. While geopolitical risks retain an upside potential in crude prices, the market’s adherence to technical resistance suggests that any further spikes may be capped for now. Investors should brace for continued volatility in energy prices. We continue to favor Energy companies, and 2Q earnings for the sector are expected to come in strong.

Major Oil Companies Benefit From Higher Prices And Strong Cash Flows

Integrated energy giants such as Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), and Shell (SHEL) have been direct beneficiaries of the recent lift in crude oil prices, which boosts their upstream production revenues, while their refining and chemical businesses provide some natural hedge against volatility.

Oil refiners also remain attractive, as constrained refining capacity can support refining margins. Many of these companies are generating robust free cash flow—cash left over after capital spending and dividends—which they are using for shareholder returns through buybacks, dividends, and selective acquisitions.

Defense Stocks Gain Relevance Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Rising geopolitical risks from the Iran conflict have highlighted the strategic importance of U.S. defense capabilities and domestic supply chains. With weapon stockpiles drawn down by support for Ukraine and military operations in the Persian Gulf, companies in the Aerospace & Defense sector stand to benefit from increased spending and accelerated production needs.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has underscored this opportunity by directing the bank to invest its own capital and provide substantial financing for national security and related industries through its broader Security and Resiliency Initiative. The effort includes a $24 million investment in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. This environment underscores the long-term case for selective exposure to established defense names with strong backlogs and technological edges, even as near-term budget and procurement cycles can introduce volatility.

Technology Faces Rotation Amid AI Spending Concerns

The Technology sector, a clear leader in the ongoing secular bull market, experienced notable rotation and pressure last week, with chipmakers and the broader group pulling back amid concerns over elevated capital spending, stretched valuations in select companies, and high market leverage, particularly in Semiconductor stocks. Semiconductor stocks had surged sharply, creating overbought conditions that invited profit-taking.

Meanwhile, the Magnificent 7—Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META), and Tesla (TSLA)—had largely worked off their earlier outsized gains and, after becoming oversold, began to rally. Apple led the advance by reaching new record highs. This kind of volatility was expected.

Earnings momentum remains robust, with the sector delivering strong guidance and superior growth prospects driven by artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure demand. Any near-term weakness should be viewed as a potential opportunity to reposition into the clearest long-term winners with durable moats, strong cash flows, and proven execution in the AI buildout.

AI Boosts Business Formation and Job Creation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to be a powerful force for new business creation rather than simply displacing jobs, according to Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management. Large language models (LLMs) and related tools are dramatically lowering the cost and complexity of launching companies, fueling a surge in the formation of new U.S. businesses—particularly solo and small operations in high-productivity sectors.

This dynamic highlights AI’s broader economic lift: it not only drives infrastructure demand but also spurs entrepreneurship and future hiring. While short-term disruption in certain roles is real, the net effect supports long-term growth and reinforces the sector’s leadership in the secular bull market.

Moonshot Challenges U.S. Frontier Models

A frontier model is the most advanced large language model (LLM) available at a given time, pushing the boundaries of reasoning, coding, creativity, and complex problem-solving. Moonshot AI, a Chinese company, has attracted attention with its latest model, Kimi 3, which reportedly rivals leading U.S. models in context length and overall performance on certain benchmarks.

While Kimi 3 demonstrates China’s rapid progress in AI, the broader risks to U.S. frontier model firms remain significant: intense global competition, rapid capability diffusion, and concerns over intellectual property practices. One flashpoint is distillation—training a smaller model using the outputs of a larger one—which U.S. companies argue can cross into IP infringement when proprietary model behavior is copied without authorization. Moonshot’s Kimi has sparked controversy for responses that occasionally mimic the style of models like Claude (Kimi has reportedly said, “Hi, I’m Claude”), though no definitive proof of direct copying has been established.

Near-term, developments like this can pressure U.S. frontier companies through heightened competition and valuation scrutiny, much as the DeepSeek releases earlier in the year triggered sell-offs in AI-related stocks despite the long-term innovation tailwinds. These episodes highlight the fast-moving nature of the AI race and the importance of focusing on firms with durable competitive advantages, strong execution, and clear paths to monetization amid global rivalry.

Sector Readings

Energy Now In First Place, Information Technology Second, Industrials Third; Consumer Discretionary Still In Last Place, Followed By Utilities

Energy moved to the top spot last week, followed by Information Technology which moved down a notch, indicating it may be weakening. Consumer Discretionary is in last place, followed by Utilities: these two have been in the same order at the end of the sector rankings for 3 weeks.

Our sector model analyzes S&P 500 GICS sector classifications, using a weighted measure of price momentum across three time periods. We rank each sector from best to worst based upon the average of its 40-, 26-, and 13-week relative price performances. We rank each sector from 1 to 11, with 1 being the strongest and 11 the weakest.

What To Watch This Week: Welcome to Hyperscalers Week

This is a week where earnings announcements should rise above economic data and geopolitical news.

This will be a week heavy with earnings—a veritable “hyperscalers week,” with major technology leaders such as Alphabet (GOOGL) and Tesla (TSLA) reporting results alongside other important names including IBM (IBM), ServiceNow (NOW), Texas Instruments (TXN), defense contractors like Lockheed Martin (LMT) and RTX (RTX), and several industrial and consumer companies. These earnings will be closely watched for updates on AI spending, cloud growth, vehicle and robotics demand, margins, and overall business confidence.

Investors will also see lighter economic data such as weekly ADP employment figures, flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) readings for manufacturing and services, weekly jobless claims, and new home sales, which should provide additional context on the health of the consumer and business activity.

On the geopolitical front, developments around the Iran conflict remain a key risk factor. While Gulf States have redirected much of their oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz via pipelines, any escalation of military action could still pressure energy prices and broader risk appetite.

We believe that a solid set of earnings reports could reinforce confidence in the earnings-driven bull market, while any notable misses or cautious guidance might add to near-term volatility. Overall, we expect continued volatility but maintain patient optimism that strong fundamentals in leading sectors will prevail for the balance of the year—Remain Fearless!

Disclosures & Disclaimer:

Sanctuary makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein. Any forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to change without notice. The information is based upon data available to the public and is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy any securities mentioned herein. Any investment discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Investors must make their own decisions based on their specific investment objectives and financial circumstances. Investments are subject to risk, including but not limited to market and interest rate fluctuations. Any performance data represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Prices/yields/figures mentioned herein are as of the date noted unless indicated otherwise. All figures subject to market fluctuation and change. Additional information available upon request.

Comments regarding cryptocurrencies or cryptocurrency-based securities are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any cryptocurrency-related product. These products involve significant risks, including high price volatility, evolving regulations, limited market liquidity, and vulnerability to fraud and cyberattacks.

Securities offered through Sanctuary Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through the SEC registered investment advisers Sanctuary Advisors, LLC and tru Independence. Sanctuary Wealth consists of the wholly owned subsidiaries: Sanctuary Advisors LLC, Sanctuary Securities, Inc., and tru Independence, as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Family Office.

Largest Foreign Listing Boosts Investor Confidence

Last week, markets posted modest gains over five full trading days that featured noticeable internal rotation beneath relatively calm index-level performance.

The S&P 500 rose about 0.4% to close near 7,575, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced roughly 0.3%. A standout moment came from SK Hynix, the South Korean memory-chip maker, which completed its U.S. listing on Nasdaq. The highly oversubscribed IPO raised $26.5 billion in a record-setting debut. The American Depositary Shares (ADS), each representing one-tenth of a South Korean ordinary share, were priced at $149 and rose more than 13% during their first full trading session. The strong debut helped lift sentiment across the semiconductor sector.

S&P 500 Poised For A Breakout Targeting 7,900-8,000 & Raising Year-End Target

The S&P 500 index has been trading in a tightening wedge pattern for several weeks, and a decisive move above the upper trendline would target the 7,900 to 8,000 area. This technical setup suggests the market could reach new highs on upcoming inflation data and bank earnings this week.

With S&P 500 earnings estimates continuing to move higher, the market trading at 22x this year’s earnings and 19x next year’s, and technical indicators suggesting the index is on the verge of a breakout, we are raising our year-end S&P 500 target to 8,225.

A breakout would reinforce the longer-term bullish trend, but any failure to clear that level would continue the consolidation pattern. Earnings growth for the first quarter came in higher than expected, up nearly 30% and second quarter growth is estimated at 23% with FactSet estimating 2Q earnings could actually come in above 29%. For calendar year 2026, consensus earnings estimates currently range from 23% to 24%.

Seasonality Bullish For Stocks In The Summer

Looking at the S&P 500’s historical seasonal performance, July has typically been one of the strongest months of the year, with an average gain of 3.6% over the past five years. Markets have then often peaked before experiencing a seasonal correction during September and October. Over the past five years, the average September pullback has been 2.7%, often creating an attractive buying opportunity ahead of a typical October rebound. October has averaged a 2.8% gain, while November has delivered the strongest average monthly return of the year, rallying nearly 4%.

Consumers Spending Is Strong

According to Bank of America card data, all groups of income categories (low, middle and higher) are increasing their spending and the gap between the higher and low end is narrowing. The K-Economy is evolving toward an “E-Economy” – as spending patterns become increasingly even across income groups. Overall spending was up 6%.

Market’s Fear Index Unusually Quiet

The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX), often called the market’s “fear gauge” because it measures expected swings in the S&P 500, closed the week at 15.03 – its lowest level since early January and down nearly 7% for the week. The subdued reading suggests investors are not rushing for the exits. Instead, it reinforces the view that there is bullish consolidation and a rotating among sectors and investment styles within equities. Small Cap stocks have been strong this year, providing confidence in the broadening breadth of the market.

Mag 7 Stocks Have Completed Their Correction

The Magnificent Seven (Mag 7) group of mega-cap tech stocks (Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA)) shows early signs of stabilization on a technical basis. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator, commonly known as MACD (a momentum indicator used to identify changes in trend strength, direction and momentum) has formed a bullish bottom for the group. This suggests the intense selling pressure on these names could be easing, potentially setting the stage for a recovery in the second half of the year.

Banks and Insurance Companies Benefit From Rising Yields

Banks and insurance companies continue to trade well. The interest rate environment has become more favorable now that rates are well above the zero bound, helping to improve net interest margins (the difference between what banks earn on loans and what they pay on deposits). Improving capital markets activity, including a pickup in initial public offerings (IPOs), is also benefiting the banks. Investors are also anticipating that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will eventually ease some banking regulations. This has led to a big base breakout in the banks of 26 years – leadership is emerging in the banks. Having banks break out is a bullish sign that the economy continues to grow.

Insurance companies have been able to raise premiums, while float income (the investment income earned on premiums before they are paid out as claims) continues to improve. Earnings season begins Tuesday with the major banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Goldman Sachs (GS). Analysts expect strong trading revenues, higher IPO underwriting fees, and healthy consumer lending trends.

Iran Keeps Oil Markets On Edge

The situation with Iran remains sticky and could linger well into the second half of the year. Ongoing tensions and threats around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, keep a risk premium in energy prices. In our view, crude oil faces near-term resistance in the $80 to $85 per barrel range. Even so, firmer oil prices should benefit Energy stocks. The Energy sector is expected to deliver the strongest second-quarter earnings growth of any sector. At the same time, Energy stocks have recently corrected to test their multi-year breakout levels and now appear extremely oversold on a technical basis. This remains a favored sector.

Sector Readings: Information Technology In First Place, Followed By Energy, Then Industrials; Consumer Discretionary Still In Last Place, Followed By Utilities

Information Technology was strongest last week, followed by Energy, then Industrials. Consumer Discretionary is in last place, followed by Utilities.

Our sector model analyzes S&P 500 GICS sector classifications, using a weighted measure of price momentum across three time periods. We rank each sector from best to worst based upon the average of its 40-, 26-, and 13-week relative price performances. We rank each sector from 1 to 11, with 1 being the strongest and 11 the weakest.

Sector Rankings By 40-, 26-, And 13-Week Average Relative Price Performance

Sector	Jul 10	Jul 3	Jun 26	Jun 19	Jun 12	Jun 5	May 29	May 22
Consumer Discretionary	11	11	11	8	10	9	6	5
Consumer Staples	8	7	8	7	7	8	8	8
Energy	2	5	3	5	2	2	2	1
Financials	9	8	9	9	11	11	11	10
Healthcare	4	3	5	10	8	7	9	11
Industrials	3	2	—	2	3	—	4	4
Information Technology	1	1	2	1	1	3	1	2
Materials	7	4	—	—	4	—	5	7
Communication Services	6	9	—	—	6	—	3	—
Utilities	10	10	—	11	9	—	—	—
Real Estate	5	6	—	—	—	—	—	—

Source: Bloomberg, Sanctuary Wealth, July 10, 2026

OBOS List: Information Technology Remains Overbought; Materials, Utilities, Consumer Staples, Energy, Consumer Discretionary, And Industrials Are Oversold; Real Estate And Communication Services Are Near Oversold.

Information Technology was still overbought last week. Utilities, Consumer Staples, Energy, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials are all also oversold, though the most extreme oversold levels are ameliorated; Real Estate and Communication Services were near oversold. Unusual overbought/oversold conditions point to continued sector rotation and often lead to heightened volatility.

Our tactical sector rotation model uses the S&P 500 GICS sector classifications. We apply a 13-week rate of change methodology that normalizes the rankings from overbought (OB) to oversold (OS). An industry group is overbought when it has risen too far too fast, relative to the rest of the market, based upon its normal movement. Conversely, it’s oversold when it has lost too much too fast, relative to the rest of the market, based upon its normal movement. Over time, a sector tends to move back toward its normal rate of change, relative to the rest of the market. Overbought sectors tend to slow their pace of gains in relative price, while oversold sectors tend to improve in relative price until they reach their average performance again.

Here’s our methodology: the overbought-oversold table of sectors measures the 13-week rate of change in the relative price of each sector. We then average (i.e., smooth) this over 3 weeks and normalize the results. Normalized oscillator values over 1.0 are considered overbought, while those between 0.6 and 1.0 are considered near overbought. Normalized oscillator values below -1.0 are considered oversold, while those between -0.6 and -1.0 are considered near oversold.

Sector Overbought/Oversold List as of 10 July 2026

Rank	S&P Sector	Normalized Oscillator	Condition
1	Information Technology	1.4520	Overbought
2	Financials	-0.1761	Neutral
3	Healthcare	-0.3408	Neutral
4	Communication Services	-0.7519	Near Oversold
5	Real Estate	-0.8672	Near Oversold
6	Industrials	-1.1455	Oversold
7	Consumer Discretionary	-1.3291	Oversold
8	Energy	-1.4569	Oversold
9	Consumer Staples	-1.6535	Oversold
10	Utilities	-1.7025	Oversold
11	Materials	-1.9511	Oversold

Source: Bloomberg, Sanctuary Wealth, July 10, 2026

This week, we get the latest on inflation, Warsh goes before Congress, and earnings start to roll in.

Market Performance: Energy Was The Best Performing Asset Year-To-Date, Followed By Russell 2000 and Information Technology; Bitcoin Is Still Weakest, Followed Distantly By Silver

Investors face a busy calendar that could set the tone for the rest of July. On Tuesday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for June is due — Wall Street expects headline inflation to ease to 3.8% year-over-year, with core CPI (which strips out food and energy) around 2.9%. Later that morning, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before the House Financial Services Committee, followed by testimony before the Senate on Wednesday. It will be his first appearance before Congress as Fed Chair, and he will have the fresh CPI data in hand. Earnings season also kicks off in earnest on Tuesday with the major banks. Investors will listen closely for commentary on trading revenues, IPO fees, consumer health, and the impact of higher oil prices.

Market Performance Statistics Table

Index / Asset	Last 7/10/2026	Month End 6/30/2026	Month to Date	Quarter End 6/30/2026	Quarter to Date	Year End 12/31/2025	Year to Date	Year Ago 7/10/2025	Year to Year
S&P 500	7,575.39	7,499.38	1.0%	7,499.38	1.0%	6,845.50	10.7%	6,280.40	20.6%
NASDAQ Composite	26,281.61	26,211.72	0.3%	26,211.72	0.3%	23,231.81	13.1%	20,625.32	27.4%
NASDAQ 100	725.51	736.25	-1.5%	736.25	-1.5%	614.39	18.1%	558.12	30.0%
Russell 2000	2,977.81	3,024.37	-1.5%	3,024.37	-1.5%	2,481.01	20.0%	2,263.22	31.6%
S&P Consumer Discretionary Sector	1,914.80	1,907.19	0.4%	1,907.19	0.4%	1,927.50	-0.7%	1,779.12	7.6%
S&P Consumer Staples Sector	930.18	923.00	0.8%	923.00	0.8%	865.31	7.5%	893.02	4.2%
S&P Energy Sector	839.58	811.20	3.5%	811.20	3.5%	687.33	22.1%	679.92	23.5%
S&P Financial Sector	926.80	893.22	3.8%	893.22	3.8%	911.13	1.7%	877.12	5.7%
S&P Healthcare Sector	1,876.76	1,852.18	1.3%	1,852.18	1.3%	1,806.83	3.9%	1,590.32	18.0%
S&P Industrials Sector	1,539.79	1,568.10	-1.8%	1,568.10	-1.8%	1,312.33	17.3%	1,275.90	20.7%
S&P Information Technology Sector	6,790.70	6,790.31	0.0%	6,790.31	0.0%	5,680.12	19.5%	5,055.20	34.3%
S&P Materials Sector	639.02	638.09	0.1%	638.09	0.1%	574.61	11.2%	579.11	10.3%
S&P Real Estate Sector	282.82	279.80	1.1%	279.80	1.1%	255.01	10.9%	261.13	8.3%
S&P Communications Sector	472.98	454.20	4.1%	454.20	4.1%	452.12	4.6%	372.31	27.0%
S&P Utilities Sector	461.13	460.68	0.1%	460.68	0.1%	433.82	6.3%	419.12	10.0%
S&P 500 Total Return	13,039.29	12,895.91	1.1%	12,895.91	1.1%	11,673.22	11.7%	10,650.31	22.4%
3 Month Treasury Bill Price	99.88	99.88	0.0%	99.88	0.0%	99.88	0.0%	99.88	0.0%
3 Month Treasury Bill Total Return	273.21	272.91	0.1%	272.91	0.1%	266.31	2.6%	258.11	5.8%
10 Year Treasury Bond Future	111.88	112.33	-0.4%	112.33	-0.4%	114.12	-2.0%	111.13	0.7%
10 Year Treasury Note Total Return	119.33	119.55	-0.2%	119.55	-0.2%	119.01	0.3%	117.22	1.8%
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	84.77	86.42	-1.9%	86.42	-1.9%	87.11	-2.7%	84.09	0.8%
S&P Municipal Bond Total Return	290.34	289.91	0.1%	289.91	0.1%	284.11	2.2%	279.13	4.0%
iShares S&P National Municipal Bond NAV	103.18	102.91	0.3%	102.91	0.3%	100.82	2.3%	99.11	4.1%
S&P 500 Investment Grade Corporate Bond Total Return	339.11	338.80	0.1%	338.80	0.1%	332.11	2.1%	321.12	5.6%
S&P Investment Grade Corporate Bond	168.01	168.10	-0.1%	168.10	-0.1%	168.01	0.0%	161.03	4.3%
S&P Investment Grade Corporate Bond Total Return	339.11	338.80	0.1%	338.80	0.1%	332.11	2.1%	321.12	5.6%
SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF	91.88	91.88	0.0%	91.88	0.0%	88.31	4.0%	84.32	9.0%
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	77.11	77.20	-0.1%	77.20	-0.1%	75.31	2.4%	72.11	6.9%
Gold	4,119.93	4,008.31	2.8%	4,008.31	2.8%	4,319.11	-4.6%	3,321.11	24.1%
Bitcoin	63,798.18	58,611.11	8.8%	58,611.11	8.8%	87,611.11	-27.2%	44,351.11	43.8%
Silver	59.87	58.60	2.2%	58.60	2.2%	71.71	-16.5%	37.01	61.8%

Disclosures & Disclaimer

Sanctuary makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein. Any forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to change without notice. The information is based upon data available to the public and is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy any securities mentioned herein. Any investment discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Investors must make their own decisions based on their specific investment objectives and financial circumstances. Investments are subject to risk, including but not limited to market and interest rate fluctuations. Any performance data represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Prices/yields/figures mentioned herein are as of the date noted unless indicated otherwise. All figures subject to market fluctuation and change. Additional information available upon request.

If someone had told you at the start of the year that global markets would be posting blockbuster returns in the middle of a military conflict with Iran, a shutdown of the critical Strait of Hormuz, and crude oil prices rocketing past $100 a barrel, you probably wouldn’t have believed them.

Yet, against all odds, here we are. The S&P 500 just wrapped up the second quarter of 2026 with an explosive 15% return. To put that into perspective, this isn’t just a good quarter—it is the single best second-quarter return in a midterm election year since 1936, and the 12th best overall quarter for the index since 1950! So, why is Wall Street shrugging off major geopolitical chaos? The answer boils down to corporate earnings and a massive structural shift. The aggressive capital spending on Artificial Intelligence is fueling a historic industrial build-out, essentially rewriting the economic playbook and powering the stock market higher.

Earnings Growth is Holding the Line

As we head deeper into the summer, corporate fundamentals are proving to be remarkably resilient. First-quarter year-over-year earnings growth for the S&P 500 clocked in at a staggering 28%, blowing past practically all analyst estimates.

Now, as we enter the second-quarter earnings season, corporate leadership remains uncharacteristically optimistic. Data from FactSet shows that estimated earnings for the S&P 500 are actually higher today than they were when the quarter began. For the second consecutive quarter, overall corporate earnings growth is expected to top 20%. We’ll get a taste of this corporate resilience later this week when consumer giant PepsiCo (PEP) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) report their numbers, right before the major banks officially kick off the floodgates on July 14.

The Job Market is Cooling (And What It Means for the Fed)

While the stock market looks red-hot, the underlying labor market tells a much quieter story. Recent government surveys reveal that the employment picture is softening faster than a lot of investors realize.

First, the Household Survey—which monitors civilian employment, including small businesses and the self-employed—has been steadily ticking downward all year, falling from 170.5 million workers in January down to 169.4 million in June. Second, the closely watched Nonfarm Payrolls report for June completely missed the mark, adding just 57,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality took a notable hit, losing 61,000 positions due to weak seasonal hiring. While the formal unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2%, it happened mostly because people are leaving the workforce altogether. The Silver Lining for Investors: This cooler employment backdrop takes a massive amount of pressure off Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and the FOMC. The consensus expectation was that the Fed would feel forced to keep raising interest rates, but this softer data completely challenges that view. Keep an eye out for the release of the June FOMC meeting minutes this Wednesday for more clues on where policy is headed.

Defense Stocks Are Rocketing Higher

Unfortunately, global friction is a secular reality, and it’s driving a multi-year investment opportunity in defense stocks. Allied and U.S. defense spending is surging past $1.0 trillion annually as nations rush to replenish munitions sent to Ukraine, respond to tensions with Iran, and prepare for potential disruptions around Taiwan.

The smart money is moving fast. Highlighting this trend, JPMorgan Chase recently made waves by launching an initiative to invest $10 billion of its own capital directly into national security and defense firms. There is also an innovation angle here: modern defense is moving toward cheaper, AI-enabled, autonomous systems (pioneered by private innovators like Anduril). This allows for rapid, scalable production that traditional, multi-billion-dollar military hardware platforms simply can’t compete with. While headline news will cause short-term volatility, defense remains a highly resilient, structural theme for diversified portfolios.

Energy Volatility and the International Breakout

On the commodity front, oil prices saw a sharp relief drop this past week as diplomatic de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran eased supply anxieties. Commercial shipping traffic has safely resumed through the critical Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, instantly lowering the geopolitical risk premium on crude oil.

Cheaper oil is an instant win for consumers at the pump, serves as an inflation cooler, and provides an immediate boost to transportation, airline, and shipping stocks. While the price drop temporarily dented Energy sector stock prices, the sector’s forward earnings forecasts are still incredibly strong, meaning we view this pullback as a textbook buying opportunity.

Meanwhile, the international story keeps getting better. The STOXX Europe 600 broke out to new all-time record highs last week, locking in an 8.0% gain for the first half of the year. This confirms our view that international markets entered a fresh secular bull market last year, and we continue to advise diversifying outside of purely U.S. equities.

Reading the Market’s Tactical Compass

If we look under the hood of the market using price momentum, Information Technology remains firmly in first place, followed closely by Industrials and Healthcare. On the flip side, Consumer Discretionary and Utilities are lagging at the bottom of the pile.

According to our tactical model, things are looking highly stretched. Technology is heavily overbought right now, which means its breakneck pace of gains will likely start to normalize. Conversely, sectors like Energy, Utilities, Consumer Staples, and Materials are deeply oversold.

Because this dramatic overbought/oversold imbalance is still working itself out, the stage is set for aggressive, volatile sector rotations. Don’t be surprised to see capital suddenly shift out of high-flying tech and rush into these battered, unloved sectors in the weeks ahead.

Disclosures & Disclaimer

Sanctuary makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein. Any forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to change without notice. The information is based upon data available to the public and is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy any securities mentioned herein. Any investment discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Investors must make their own decisions based on their specific investment objectives and financial circumstances. Investments are subject to risk, including but not limited to market and interest rate fluctuations. Any performance data represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Prices/yields/figures mentioned herein are as of the date noted unless indicated otherwise. All figures subject to market fluctuation and change. Additional information available upon request.