The 1-Minute Market Report, April 19, 2026

Erik Conley13.67K FollowersFollow5ShareSavePlay(6min)CommentsSummaryThe equity market surged on optimism over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, posting three new all-time highs and a 4.5% weekly gain.Nasdaq and Micro-caps led the rally, with Big Tech (Mag 7) regaining leadership; energy was the primary source of funds for these moves.Risk-on sentiment prevailed as investors rotated into growth, momentum, tech, consumer cyclicals, and blockchain, while selling energy, commodities, and defensive names.I redeployed 5% of cash, now holding 10% in reserve, remaining cautious about Middle East stability and the sustainability of the rally. SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Last week we witnessed the power of the Strat of Hormuz, and who controls it. After being closed for two weeks, the Iran government decided to reopen it to ship traffic, with certain rules and conditions in place. That’s allThis article was written byErik Conley13.67K FollowersFollowI spent 30 years in the institutional trenches as a trader, analyst, and portfolio manager, eventually running the equity trading desk at Northern Trust in Chicago. Those decades shaped my approach: stay disciplined, trust the data, and keep emotion out of the way. Since 2009, when I began publishing my stock selections, my portfolio has delivered solid long term results—compounding in the mid teens annually through 2025. Today I’m a private investor and investing coach, with a rules based framework that helps people build better portfolios. My work focuses on systematic thinking, behavioral awareness, and evidence over opinion. For my market outlook and model portfolio updates, visit zeninvestor.org. .Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NVDA, AVGO, GOOGL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.