Weekly Chartstopper: April 17, 2026

Improving odds of a U.S.-Iran peace deal and a strong start to Q1 earnings have lifted equity risk appetite: the Nasdaq-100 has rallied to record highs, posting 13 straight winning sessions and rising about 6% this week (roughly +6% YTD). Falling geopolitical risk has sent U.S. oil down to about $85/barrel from nearly $115 ten days earlier, relieving energy-driven inflation concerns. Strong earnings and raised guidance from major chip suppliers (TSMC and ASML) underscore robust AI-driven demand, while 10‑year Treasury yields eased over 5 basis points to about 4.25%, supporting equities. Near-term macro and corporate catalysts to watch include Retail Sales, S&P PMIs, jobless claims and Tesla’s Q1 report. Overall the piece frames a constructive backdrop for U.S. equities driven by declining geopolitical risk, solid corporate results and slightly lower yields.