For the week of 18 to 22 May 2026, markets swung between cautious optimism and persistent inflation anxiety. Stocks found support from signs of progress in US Iran talks, but oil stayed elevated, the US dollar held near a six week high, gold slipped for the week, and crypto now heads into the 23 to 24 May weekend as the clearest live read on sentiment.

For the week of 11 to 15 May 2026, markets shifted back toward an inflation and rates story. Oil climbed sharply as Hormuz disruption and stalled Iran diplomacy kept supply fears alive, the US dollar posted its biggest weekly gain in more than two months, gold fell to a one week low, and crypto now heads into the 16 to 17 May weekend as the main live sentiment gauge.