Emergency Fed Meeting Sparks Volatile Week Ahead
Futures opened lower Monday while crude oil surged over 7.5% and gold slipped, setting the tone for a potentially volatile week filled with an emergency Fed meeting, inflation and employment data, and heavy earnings. Last week’s rally lacked confidence and volume, with markets rising on short covering and a handful of large stocks rather than broad participation.
The NASDAQ 100 hit major resistance while the equal-weighted index actually declined, highlighting weak market breadth. Software stocks remain under pressure, energy remains bullish despite last week’s pullback, and financials—especially banks—led gains. The message: lock in profits, avoid chasing weekly buy signals, and be patient as markets decide direction.
Stephen Whiteside
Monday, April 13, 2026
