Equities continued to rally sharply higher last week despite relatively disappointing earnings results from several of the tech giants that carry large weights within the U.S. equity market.

U.S. equity markets surged higher last week as market yields took a pause from their relentless year-to-date climb while investors weighed the possibility of smaller future rate increases from the Federal Reserve.

U.S. equities marked new year-to-date lows in turbulent trading last week as another upside surprise in inflation pushed rate hike expectations higher and investors digested cautious earnings updates from large banks.

Hopes that the Fed and other central banks would begin to pull back on their aggressive hawkish stance in the fight against inflation spurred investors to buy into equities across Monday and Tuesday, after a glum end to Q3. But those expectations were sharply tempered after Friday's payroll data indicated that the central bank would not stray from its rate-hiking policies.

Birds will tell you that building a nest is hard work – but the protection and security it provides make it worth it. Is your nest strong enough to protect you from future hardship? In honor of National Savings Day, Dahna Sanders, Senior Workplace Banking Representative with First Merchants Bank, has a few tips on how to tell if your savings account is ready to weather whatever storms life may bring.