Welcome back to our weekly newsletter where we provide an overview of the main US and UK indices, along with analyses of selected assets that are outperforming the market.

April’s market action has been filled with surprises, potential, and just enough risk to keep every investor on their toes. In the sections below, you’ll see what’s genuinely moving the market right now, and what I’ll be watching closely in the weeks ahead.

Let’s get into this week’s newsletter!

US & UK INDICES OVERVIEW

S&P 500

Let’s start with the S&P 500, because this index has been an excellent case study in patience and timing. For months, it’s been moving sideways, then we saw the declines in March.

Then April arrived, and with it, a decisive move. This month, the S&P 500 is up 9.15%, finally tipping its yearly growth into the green at 4.1%.

Earlier in the year, the index kept nudging against that 2025 high at $6945, but could never quite stick the landing. Fast forward to mid-April, not only did the S&P finally break through, it sailed past the previous all-time high at $7002 (set January 28th), closing above it on April 15th.

Weekly growth hit 4.54%, and the index finished Friday with another 1.2% gain, all while firmly holding above the $7000 psychological support.

So, what do we do now? My approach is to keep things simple. I’m looking for a clean pattern of higher highs and higher lows, a classic continuation setup. If we get a healthy pullback and the buyers show up again, that’ll be my green light.

These are the stretches where sticking to a straightforward system, rather than chasing every price wiggle, tends to reward you. From where I’m sitting, the S&P 500’s resilience this April is a strong lesson in letting the trend do the heavy lifting.

Dow Jones

The Dow is up 6.7% for the month and 2.88% for the year, but it keeps hitting resistance at the $50,000 psychological mark and the all-time high at $50,512 from last February, which are around the same level. Even so, the index is holding above its 2025 high at $48,8860, a key level that’s acting like a springboard.

Earlier this year, we watched the Dow close above that 2025 high, only for a reversal to kick in and send prices lower in March. That kind of false breakout can shake your confidence if you’re not prepared.

After the pullback, though, the index bounced back, reclaiming lost ground as April unfolded. My approach here is to watch for a strong, clear close above both that big $50,000 number and, crucially, the previous all-time high.

If the S&P 500’s momentum keeps pulling the market skyward, history says the Dow tends to follow, eventually breaking out of its hesitation and setting new records of its own.

Nasdaq 100

If you’re the kind of investor who values momentum, but hates surprises, you’ll appreciate what’s playing out with the Nasdaq 100 this April. Not long ago, the index kept struggling to break past its 2025 high at $26,182.

It was a familiar pattern, lots of noise, but not much follow-through. Then, suddenly, April brought a decisive breakout. We’ve seen the Nasdaq leap by 12.35% just this month, pulling its yearly growth up to 5.63%.

That new high for 2025, once a ceiling, is now solid support, and the index is carving out fresh all-time highs day after day.

FTSE 100: 

Now, let’s look at the FTSE 100. I’ve learned an important lesson from watching this index over the years: a strong recovery after a correction is a signal you shouldn’t ignore.

The FTSE has posted a 4.83% gain this month and a year-to-date gain of 7.41%. We watched the price dip to 9670 in March, an uncomfortable moment for anyone, myself included, who’s seen how quickly things can turn.

Since hitting that low, the FTSE has bounced back by over 10%. The index continued its upward trend last week, gaining another 0.63%, with Friday adding a further 0.73%.

There’s still a bit of unfinished business, though: buyers will need to push past the recent resistance at 10687 (set on April 8th), and then it’s on to the all-time high from February at 10934.

If buyers keep showing up and driving price, that next record high is not out of reach. The lesson here? Pay attention to those bounce-backs, they often signal more strength ahead, especially if the higher highs start to stack up.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Marriott International (MAR)

Marriott International has been a textbook example of how staying patient through choppy periods can eventually pay off.

Earlier in the year, the stock bumped up against its 2025 high at $316 but couldn’t quite hold above it, one of those classic moments where many investors have felt tempted to bail out too soon.

But instead of forcing a move, I watched for the confirmation, and it came. February finally brought a close above that $316 mark, and after a brief pullback in March, April showed what a strong trend continuation looks like.

This month, Marriott is up an impressive 15.55%, and the year-to-date tally sits at 21.82%. Last week’s move of 6.73%, followed by a bullish 4.28% gap up on Friday, isn’t just a lucky break, it’s confirmation that the trend is strengthening, especially since the price broke above the previous all-time high at $370.

Right now, the signals are clear, a confirmed bull trend continuation pattern and a stock making new records. That’s the kind of setup I look for when deciding if it’s time to add or let profits run.

OUTPERFORMING ASSET FOR THE WATCHLIST

Hilton Worldwide Holdings (KEYS)

Hilton Worldwide Holdings has been another lesson in patience and adjustment, something I’ve learned is vital in this market.

If you track the stock’s path this year, you’ll notice how it broke above its 2025 high at $294 back in January, only to face a deep correction in March.

As someone who’s tried to “catch” these moves too early in the past, I now wait for signs of true support; in Hilton’s case, that showed up right around the $300 round number.

The rebound since then has been impressive. April brought a 12.15% jump, and the year-to-date number stands at 18.72%. The stock delivered a 5.44% gain over the past week and closed Friday up 3.22%, making new all-time highs in the process.

Is Hilton forming a sustainable pattern of higher highs and higher lows, or will earnings (coming April 28th) shake things up?

Based on my experience, respecting the power of earnings season is critical, it can bring sudden volatility and opportunity alike.

For now, with the bull trend intact and price action staying above key support zones, I’m guided by what the price is showing. I’ll stick with my plan: monitor for strength, keep risk tight if adding, and let the trend do the work as long as the structure holds.

Looking Ahead

The number of U.S. stocks trading above their 200-day moving average has increased from 42% to 58%, and market indices are hitting record highs. This suggests a strong market recovery, and we are optimistic that this upward trend will continue for the remainder of the year.

Keep it simple. Keep it Sublime.

The ST Team

P.S. Answer 21 rapid-fire questions about your investing approach and then as if by magic, we will give you recommendations that are right for you and you’ll unlock your FREE Bonuses that will improve your investing results over the next 3 to 5 years.