July 2026 Market Update: S&P Hits Highs, Small Caps Surge, and Inflation Lingers

Join Brett Hina and Dan Lesneski from Cornerstone Private Wealth as they break down the markets at the halfway point of 2026. Get a concise look at what drove the first half’s performance and what to watch for as we move into the second half of the year. In this episode, we cover: Market performance review: all-time highs, sector rotation, and small/mid-cap leadership Earnings trends, interest rates, and the impact of AI on company results International and emerging market standouts – with a focus on South Korea and Europe Volatility, margin balances, and speculative activity influencing the current environment Looking ahead: historical seasonality, upcoming volatility, and client takeaways for the rest of the year EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Reviewing first half of the year 04:11 Strong Q2 market performance 07:56 Global market reaction to earnings 10:40 Stock market correlations low 14:24 Discussing S&P 500 Observations 16:29 Microsoft and Meta market update 22:26 Stock Market Update 23:29 Commodities market fluctuations 28:50 S&P 500 Earnings Outlook 30:24 Client reactions to market events 34:50 Summer market volatility expectations 36:26 Overcoming 20th Century Challenges 39:46 Cornerstone Private Wealth overview Have questions or topics for future episodes? Cornerstone’s team invites clients and viewers to reach out directly at [email protected]. – Be sure to subscribe on YouTube and click the bell icon so that you receive notifications of upcoming episodes and other content! Learn more about Cornerstone Private Wealth at Cornerstonepw.com Follow us on LinkedIn @cornerstonepw We’re here to help. Contact us anytime at [email protected]