The first half of 2026 will be a tough act to follow. In our 2026 full-year outlook, we were bullish on stocks, but we cautioned investors to dial back risk in their portfolios.
Right on cue, the broad market peaked on January 27, then sank more than 9%, a whisker below the 10% threshold that marks an official correction. But it’s the about-face from the market’s low at the end of March that has been truly stunning, with the S&P 500 Index taking just 11 trading days to set a new high — and subsequently notching six more by April 30, the date for prices, returns and other data in this story.
