Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: May 23, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Geopolitical Developments

A gunman known to U.S. Secret Service opened fire near the White House and was killed by federal officers, with President Trump in residence at the time. Meanwhile, Trump announced that Iran had agreed to give up enriched uranium, though precise details remained unclear as U.S. officials only confirmed that the U.S. demanded a commitment from Iran on uranium as part of any initial agreement. The Iran peace proposal continues to face questions about what exactly has been agreed upon, or if much has been agreed to at all. In related developments, British forces are preparing to deploy autonomous mine-hunting equipment at Gibraltar if a peace agreement is achieved, positioning for potential operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Market Sentiment & Policy

Stocks are partying like it's 1999, with the market reaching heights not seen in decades, while Americans report feeling gloomy at levels not seen in 70 years, creating a stark disconnect between market performance and public sentiment. The Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge is rapidly approaching 4% as war-driven energy costs generate concerns that price pressures will broaden beyond energy sectors. In Korea, the world's best-performing yet most volatile market is debuting single-stock leveraged ETFs, tools that could amplify both gains and losses for the world's most fervent day traders. The Trump administration is setting its sights on restricting legal immigration after a year focused on undocumented immigrants, a policy shift that carries significant economic implications given the contributions of legal immigrants to the U.S. economy.

Public Health Concerns

Congo faces a surge in Ebola cases as key medical tools run short, with Africa's top public health official noting the outbreak is being fought without one of the most important epidemic response tools: vaccines. Despite growing international concern, Kinshasa residents continue to pack markets, bars and public transportation, potentially accelerating virus spread as U.S. Ebola travel bans face criticism from Congolese health officials who fear such measures may exacerbate the crisis.

Cultural Updates

Director Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, exploring tensions between religious conservatism and social liberalism in a festival that many described as comparatively muted. In a surprising turn, Stephen Colbert returned to late-night television the day after his final "Late Show" episode by hosting "Only in Monroe," a community-access program in Monroe, Mich., demonstrating the comedian's unexpected connection to public broadcasting.

Industrial Incident

Explosions at May Ship Repair killed a subcontractor at Staten Island's shipyard, with investigators looking into the blasts that erupted after a fire on a dock, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in maritime industrial operations.