The S&P 500 ended the week slightly lower, slipping to 6,896.24 after a prior close of 6,945.77, marking a modest decline of roughly 0.7%. The pullback came as markets continued to wrestle with interest‑rate uncertainty, with stronger economic readings keeping pressure on expectations for when the Federal Reserve might ease policy. Higher yields weighed most heavily on tech and other long‑duration growth names, while defensive sectors once again showed relative stability.
Broader sentiment remained cautious as investors digested mixed corporate updates and positioned ahead of early‑year economic data. Despite the weekly dip, the index remains near its recent highs, reflecting underlying resilience even as volatility picks up. Our watch list remain relatively steady. Below is our dividend watch list to kick off 2026. Continue reading →