Happy Sunday, and welcome to Benzinga’s financial advisor newsletter.

Today we're discussing women investors. Over 80% of women say they enjoy managing their own investments and find it empowering. The majority of women began investing at age 31, and 85% say they regret not starting sooner.

Plus, a look back at the last week of market activity.

INDUSTRY CHATTER

90% of Women Investors Say They’re on Track to Meet Their Financial Goals, Survey Finds

A new report shows women are increasingly confident in managing their money — and many are thriving as investors. But a common regret remains: not starting investing early.

According to the survey by Charles Schwab, nine in 10 women feel they’re on track to meet their financial goals, and nearly 90% say they’re confident in their investment strategy. Most are focused on building long-term wealth, not short-term wins, and more than half are comfortable taking on some level of risk to grow their money.

Still, the path hasn’t always been easy. On average, women began investing at age 31, and 85% say they wish they had started sooner. Many pointed to challenges like limited financial knowledge or not having extra earnings early in their careers. Broader barriers — including lower pay, career breaks for caregiving, and fewer job opportunities — continue to impact their ability to invest.

Despite these hurdles, women are building strong financial habits. Patience, discipline, and consistency ranked as their top investing strengths, and most say managing their investments gives them a sense of empowerment. About two-thirds view themselves as investors, and a quarter identify as traders — a sign of growing comfort with the markets.

Women are also highly engaged learners. Most rely on a combination of independent research and professional advice, and more than three-quarters say it’s important to be able to seek financial guidance anonymously. They’re most likely to turn to financial advisors, internet searches, and family for help.

MARKET RECAP

Fed Stays Put, Trump Touts UK Trade Deal, Bitcoin Booms Past $100K, Stagflation Fears Rise

Global markets digested a week packed with trade breakthroughs, monetary policy signals, and digital asset milestones.

Wall Street remains cautiously optimistic as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to strike favorable trade deals. Hopes were buoyed by a high-level summit between U.S. and Chinese officials in Switzerland over the upcoming weekend. Investors view the meeting as a step toward de-escalation.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration unveiled a trade agreement with the U.K. A 10% baseline tariff remains, but the U.S. intends to cut duties on U.K. car imports from 25% to 15%.

In return, the U.K. reduced tariffs on U.S. vehicles and slashed agricultural duties, bringing levies on American beef and other key exports near zero. In addition, British Airways placed a $13 billion order for Boeing Co. aircraft.

On the macro front, the Federal Reserve held its policy rate steady at 4.25%-4.50% for a third consecutive meeting, underscoring concerns over lingering inflationary pressures and labor market damage amid trade-related risks.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone and resisted expectations of imminent rate cuts, reiterating that monetary policy will remain data-dependent. Powell dismissed recession fears, attributing the weakness in first-quarter economic data to distortions in trade flows.

Still, a growing number of economists now warn that stagflation—a toxic mix of high inflation and stagnant growth—could be around the corner, straining the Fed's dual mandate.

Market pricing for rate cuts has shifted accordingly. As of now, futures imply just a 20% probability of a 25-basis-point cut in June.

In equities, The Walt Disney Company reached the top of the mega-cap leaderboard. This follows robust earnings and a new theme park announcement for Abu Dhabi.

Eli Lilly & Co. extended last week's decline following disappointing guidance, weighing heavily on the broader healthcare sector.

Cryptocurrencies staged a dramatic comeback. Bitcoin breached the $100,000 threshold. The top digital asset hit levels last seen in February as optimism around trade diplomacy lifted risk sentiment.

The rally was broad-based, with Ethereum jumping over 25% on the week following a major network upgrade.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Walmart, Alibaba and Fox report earnings, UK GDP, US consumer price index, and more

Economic Data

• Monday: US monthly federal budget

• Tuesday: US consumer price index

• Wednesday: US crude oil inventories

• Thursday: UK GDP, US initial jobless claims and retail sales,

• Friday: CAN foreign securities purchases, US Import price index

Earnings

• Monday: Fox Corporation (FOX), NRG Energy (NRG)

• Tuesday: Sony Group (SONY), Sea Limited (SE)

• Wednesday: Cisco Systems (CSCO), Ambev S.A. (ABEV)

• Thursday: Walmart (WMT), Alibaba (BABA), Deere & Company (DE)

• Friday: H World Group (HTHT), RBC Bearings (RBC)

Click here for the full calendar of economic data and earnings reports.

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