By Hamza Shaban

This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with:

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It doesn't take much to spook investors.

For several months the broader macro environment has functioned like a grab bag of justifications to close out and watch from afar. Trade uncertainty, an unmoving Fed, and turmoil in the Middle East have kept money on the sidelines. And by the time you are reading this, those storylines will have already changed.

Sensitivity to global events has also worked in investors' favor. It takes a lot to get the market down for a 10 count, even if it trips and even falls on a semi-regular basis. Being unfazed has yielded powerful returns as the S&P approaches the prior highs of February. But for as much as fickleness has defined Wall Street, optimism has a track record of rolling over negative catalysts in a year full of them.

For those surprised at how resilient the markets have been despite the swirling geopolitical headlines, analysts have pointed to several factors that are motivating investors. Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist at LPL Financial, wrote in a note on Monday that the parties behind the hostilities between Israel and Iran are likely interested in keeping the conflict contained, and that investors are also banking on limited disruption of oil production facilities.

Jitters over the potential for a widening of the violence appeared to have been calmed amid a report that Tehran is looking to deescalate the conflict. On Monday, oil prices eased lower in a new sign that investors don't believe a protracted war — and fresh energy pricing pressures — will ensue this summer.

Emergency personnel work at an impact site after missiles were launched from Iran to Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 16, 2025. REUTERS

As for the Fed, many central bank watchers expect officials to stick with their cautious approach, even or perhaps especially because of heightened uncertainty. Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, wrote in a note on Monday that the Fed is likely to adhere to a plan of "patience" and "wait and see" as officials analyze how the mix of higher tariffs and tax cuts will impact the economy.

The Fed isn't coming to the rescue, at least for a few more months. But as far as the stock market is concerned, even with mounting external events, there isn't much that needs rescuing.

Hamza Shaban is a reporter for Yahoo Finance covering markets and the economy. Follow Hamza on X @hshaban.

Source: Yahoo Finance