Labor Force

October 7, 2024

  Labor news had an impact on markets last week. The port workers went on strike on Tuesday and then back to work on Friday, and the September labor market report was well above expectations. Stocks labored most of the week before a relief rally on Friday. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.3%, …

Tailwind

September 30, 2024

  Stocks kept up their post-Fed meeting momentum last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.6%, the Dow was +0.6%, and the NASDAQ was +1.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrial sectors led the market. The Health Care, Energy, and Financial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note …

Start of the Cycle

September 23, 2024

  Stocks advanced as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 0.50%. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.4%, the Dow was +1.7%, and the NASDAQ was +1.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Energy, Communication Services, and Financial sectors led the market. The Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and Health Care sectors lagged. The …

Cut Day

September 16, 2024

  Stocks rallied back last week in anticipation of an easing in monetary policy to be announced this week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.1%, the Dow was +2.6%, and the NASDAQ was +6.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors led the market. The Energy, Financial, …

Game On

September 9, 2024

  September started with downside pressure in the equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 was -4.2%, the Dow was -2.9%, and the NASDAQ was -5.9%. Within the S&P 500 Index, Consumer Staples and Real Estate were the only two positive sectors for the week. The worst performing sectors were Technology, Energy, and Communication …

Back to Work

September 3, 2024

  The equity markets were mixed in the final week of August. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.3%, the Dow was +1.1%, and the NASDAQ was -2.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Financials, Industrials, and Materials sectors led the market, while the Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. The 10-year …

The Time Has Come

August 26, 2024

  The equity market finished higher on the week as Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the time has come for monetary policy to adjust. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.5%, the Dow was +1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +1.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Real Estate, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led …

Bounce

August 19, 2024

  The equity market bounce continued last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.0%, the Dow was +3.0%, and the NASDAQ was +5.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Financial sectors led the market, while the Real Estate, Communication Services, and Utilities sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note …

Rapid Movement

August 12, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index fell sharply last Monday, down 3% on the day, but slowly gained that back over the course of the week to finish near flat. For the week, the S&P 500 was unchanged, the Dow was -0.6%, and the NASDAQ was +0.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Industrial, Energy, and …

Summer Swoon

August 5, 2024

  Equity markets retreated last week on concerns that rate cuts may come too late to keep the economy from slipping.  For the week, the S&P 500 was -2.0%, the Dow was -2.1%, and the NASDAQ was -3.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Utilities, Real Estate, and Communication Services sectors led the market, while …