| 📊 Alain’s Holdings — July 8, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Name | Price | Change | Change % |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 685.26 | -1.82 | -0.26% |
| QQQ | Invesco QQQ Trust | 711.44 | +2.01 | +0.28% |
| XIU.TO | iShares S&P/TSX 60 ETF | 52.06 | -0.50 | -0.95% |
Geopolitical tensions returned to the forefront Wednesday, sending oil prices sharply higher and pushing two of the three major U.S. indexes lower.
The S&P 500 fell 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite managed to finish 0.2% higher after recovering from early losses. Investors reacted to renewed uncertainty after President Donald Trump said the temporary U.S.–Iran agreement was “over,” raising concerns about energy supplies and inflation.
The biggest move came in the energy market.
Brent crude oil surged about 5%, climbing above $78 per barrel, as traders worried that renewed hostilities could disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil prices immediately reignited concerns that inflation could remain stubbornly high, putting additional pressure on interest rates.
Technology stocks, however, told a different story.
After a difficult start to the session, buyers returned to several semiconductor names, allowing the Nasdaq to recover and finish modestly higher. The rebound suggests that investors remain willing to buy quality AI companies on weakness, even as geopolitical uncertainty dominates the headlines.
The market also digested the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve’s June meeting.
The minutes showed policymakers remain concerned about inflation and indicated they would be prepared to tighten monetary policy further if price pressures fail to ease. Combined with rising oil prices, that added another layer of caution to today’s trading.
Today’s session was a reminder that markets are constantly balancing multiple forces at once.
One day it’s artificial intelligence.
The next day it’s geopolitics.
Then it’s inflation, interest rates, or corporate earnings.
Trying to predict every headline is nearly impossible.
Successful investing is about owning great businesses that can navigate uncertainty over many years—not reacting to every daily news cycle.
Long-term investors know that volatility is temporary.
Compounding is permanent.
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