Week 28: Geopolitics Rattle Markets - Vol Holds, Portfolios Deliver
Iran tensions, a hawkish Fed and surging oil prices kept traders on edge: yet equities ended the week higher and all four Rivativ portfolios outperformed the S&P 500. →
Week 29 (13–17 July) began with cautious optimism as Q2 earnings season kicked off in earnest. Better-than-expected results from the major US banks and softer-than-forecast producer price data set a constructive early tone. By Friday, however, renewed doubts about the sustainability of the AI boom — combined with fresh US-Iran tensions — sent technology stocks lower and pulled the broader index into the red. The S&P 500 now stands +8.8% year-to-date.
Iran tensions, a hawkish Fed and surging oil prices kept traders on edge: yet equities ended the week higher and all four Rivativ portfolios outperformed the S&P 500. →
A week of falling volatility and flattening term structures rewarded systematic positioning — but tactical gamma trades faced headwinds. →
A week of falling volatility and flattening term structures rewarded systematic positioning — but tactical gamma trades faced headwinds. →
A stronger-than-expected US jobs report ended nine consecutive weeks of S&P 500 gains — and tested every strategy in our model portfolio. →
A shortened week, record highs, and a VIX that finally blinked. Here's what happened and how our model portfolios responded. →