Beyond the Bell

In this article, Jordan Eich, CFP®, Wealth Manager, provides an overview of how the escalating Iran conflict may be influencing global markets. He examines key factors such as rising oil prices, potential inflationary pressures, and evolving geopolitical risks. The piece also explores how different conflict scenarios could affect economic conditions, while offering historical context on how markets have responded to similar events.

Artificial intelligence has been a dominant market theme in recent years, influencing sector performance, valuations, and investor sentiment. Headlines have shifted from optimism about productivity gains to questions about disruption and the long-term implications for established business models.

In this commentary, Sarah Swan, CFP®, Wealth Manager, examines how evolving AI narratives have affected areas of the stock market, including the divergence between AI infrastructure companies and software firms. She also draws on historical examples of technological change and foundational ideas from thinkers such as Alan Turing and John Searle to frame the broader questions surrounding innovation, uncertainty, and markets.