Investors Ignore Middle East Conflict, US Stocks Expected to Achieve Biggest Quarterly Gain in Years

Golden Ten Data July 1st: All three major U.S. stock indexes rose across the board on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Index on track to post their largest quarterly gains since 2020, and the Dow Jones also poised for its best quarterly performance since 2022. Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, investors remain optimistic about the economic outlook and corporate earnings. Signs of progress in recent ceasefire talks in Iran have bolstered market sentiment, although renewed clashes over the weekend have put pressure on the prospects for an agreement. “The performance in the first half of this year far exceeded most people's expectations,” said Oliver Pursche, Senior Vice President at Wealthspire Advisors. “Despite continuous geopolitical turmoil, the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are strong, and corporate earnings are quite robust.” Following a stellar Q1 earnings season, investors are now focusing on the Q2 results to be released in the coming weeks.