Small-Cap Stocks Are Plunging. Are Stalled Iran Negotiations Responsible?

Negotiations over the Iran war appeared to take a step backward. The Russell 2000 fell sharply, in part due to its increased exposure to interest rates and inflation.

The Motley Fool • May 7, 2026

Tony Zhang's Example Options Trades in IWM & ORCL

Tony Zhang joins Trading 360 as markets reach new all-time highs during Thursday's session. He explains why strong earnings and AI driven tech will continue to lead stocks higher.

Dual Commencement: The Russell Index Shift to Semi-Annual Rebalancing

June is typically reserved for graduation processionals, with the “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D” blaring from PA systems or high-fidelity systems (depending on how well-funded the school is).

ETF Trends • Apr 29, 2026

Small-Cap Value Takes The Lead In A Risk-Off Quarter

The first quarter of 2026 ended with a decisive shift in equity leadership. The Russell 2000 Value Index gained 5.0 percent, while the Russell 2000 Growth Index fell 2.8 percent.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 27, 2026

VIX Creeps Toward 20 as Iran Fears and Tesla's Whipsaw Rattle Nerves

The CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) calm gave way to fresh anxiety over the Iran standoff.

24/7 Wall Street • Apr 23, 2026

Small Cap Stocks Drag Russell 2000 Lower After Last Week's Impressive Run

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is treading water Monday morning after last week's historic rally, with the small-cap index barely changed as fresh geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East threatens the brief ceasefire that drove last week's surge.

24/7 Wall Street • Apr 20, 2026

Iran Tensions Are Heating Up Again. So Why Did the Russell 2000 Just Hit an All-Time High?

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both had winning streaks snapped. The Russell 2000 moved higher even as all three major indexes fell.

The Motley Fool • Apr 20, 2026

Russell U.S. Indexes Spotlight - Quarterly Report: April 2026

The Middle East crisis led to a broad selloff in Russell equity segments in March halting the year-long rally. 12M forward P/Es derated broadly but more so for Russell 1000, Top 200 and the large- and small-cap Growth indices partly due to their heavy Tech exposure and valuation expansion over the last three years.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 20, 2026

Top-Performing ETFs of Last Week

ETFs rallied last week on easing Iran war fears, strong earnings and crypto buzz, even as Strait of Hormuz risks linger.

Zacks Investment Research • Apr 20, 2026

VOO vs. IWM: 2 Iconic Indexes, 2 Very Different Slices of the U.S. Market

IWM charges a higher expense ratio and has a lower dividend yield than VOO. IWM's small-cap focus led to a sharper five-year drawdown and lower long-term growth, but it has outperformed VOO over the past year.

The Motley Fool • Apr 17, 2026