From the Desk - Economic Commentary
Brandon Casey, Member Strategies - 3/26/2026
U.S. stocks are mixed Thursday morning as investors continue to follow developments on the war with Iran. Sentiment was muted after Iranian state media reported that Tehran would not accept the ceasefire proposal put forward by the U.S., signaling instead an intention to press ahead until its strategic objectives are met. Adding to the cautious tone, President Trump said earlier today that Iran must engage more seriously in negotiations before the opportunity narrows. Stocks posted a strong advance on Wednesday, and while markets have experienced elevated volatility this week, the major indexes remain on pace for a weekly gain.
Initial jobless claims rose by 5,000 to 210,000 for the week ending March 21, matching consensus forecasts. The four-week moving average, which helps smooth weekly volatility, slipped slightly to 210,500 from 210,750. Continuing claims declined by 32,000 to 1.819 million for the week ending March 14, marking the lowest level since May 2024.
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