Tariffs. Rising yields. A war in the Middle East. And yet the market just posted one of its strongest months in years. Here’s the full story and why what happened in small-cap America may be the most telling signal of all.
When I last penned our monthly newsletter, markets were contending with elevated oil prices and uncertainty stemming from the conflict with Iran.
At Financial Cornerstones, we view markets through the lens of stewardship, not speculation. While headlines can stir anxiety, our role is to help you interpret events with clarity, discipline, and a long-term perspective grounded in wise decision-making.
In the early hours of February 28, global markets were shaken by significant geopolitical developments as the U.S. and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
As we saw building in the back half of last year, global markets continue to deliver strong performance, but there's been a clear shift in leadership among U.S. stocks.
The bull market that kicked off in late 2022 kept rolling through 2025, with the S&P 500 recording another impressive year, climbing 16.4% following back-to-back gains that exceeded 20% in 2023 and 2024. That’s three years of gains.