Aya covers continued market volatility this week, as the sentiment pendulum swung between cautious optimism that the Iran conflict could wind down, and inflation concerns driven by $100 per barrel oil.

Gary unpacks the ramifications of the ongoing conflict in Iran and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As Gary describes, the markets hate uncertainty, and where uncertainty goes, volatility follows.

The Iran conflict continues to dominate the news. Oil prices are moving higher while the markets saw increased volatility this week. With higher energy prices alongside seemingly entrenched inflation, it’s looking less and less likely that the Fed will cut rates this year.

In this week’s 7 Market Movers, Aya Yoshioka breaks down the Fed’s latest rate cut, cooling labor data, and market reactions across bonds, equities, and commodities. She highlights key earnings from Oracle, Broadcom, and Costco, along with renewed debates around AI and inflation. Despite a volatile year, global markets remain resilient heading into 2026, reinforcing the value of disciplined, diversified investing.

In this week’s 7 Market Movers, Doug Huber explains how markets are navigating delayed economic data, with jobless claims hitting a three-year low despite elevated layoffs. Strong earnings from Snowflake and Dollar General boosted equities, while expectations for a December Fed rate cut climbed above 90%, supporting both small-cap and tech stocks. Treasury yields edged lower, and investors now await key economic reports in the coming weeks for clearer insight into inflation, employment, and Fed policy direction.