Alpha — Week of Aug. 22, 2026

As of August 21, 2026, the S&P 500 closed at 7,674.37, reflecting a year-to-date gain of approximately 11%, while the Nasdaq Composite showed a stronger performance with a 16% increase. The market sentiment remains positive, driven by investor enthusiasm around AI and technology sectors, alongside easing concerns over rate hikes. The inflation rate in the U.S. has decreased to 3.4%, with a core inflation rate of 2.5%. The Federal Reserve has maintained interest rates in the range of 3.50% to 3.75%, indicating a stable monetary policy outlook at this time.