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 …

Dog Days

July 29, 2024

  The rotation continued last week with small cap stocks outpacing large cap stocks, especially in the technology sector. The Russell 2000 Index was +3.5% for the week, while the Dow was the only positive major average +0.8% and the S&P 500 fell 0.8% and the NASDAQ fell 2.6%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the …

Rotation

July 22, 2024

  The rotation away from large cap tech stocks and into small cap stocks continued last week. The S&P 500 Index was      -1.9%, the Dow was +0.7%, and the NASDAQ was -4.0%. The Russell 2000 Index was +1.7% for the week. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Energy, Financial, and Real Estate sectors led, while …

Rate Cut Horizon

July 15, 2024

  Upside spread to wider areas of the equity market as investors gained confidence that inflation is trending lower and that rate cuts are on the horizon. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.9%, the Dow was +1.6%, and the NASDAQ was -0.3%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Real Estate, Utility, and …

Checking In

July 8, 2024

  Stocks advanced to start the third quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.0%, the Dow was +0.7%, and the NASDAQ was +3.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Consumer Discretionary, Technology, and Communication Services sectors led, while the Energy, Health Care, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …

Halftime

July 1, 2024

  Stocks fell modestly last week but closed out the first half of 2024 with gains. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow was -0.1%, and the NASDAQ was -0.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Energy, Communication Services, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led, while the Utility, Materials, and Consumer Staples …

Summer Solstice

June 24, 2024

  Stocks posted gains during the holiday shortened week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.6%, the Dow was +1.5%, and the NASDAQ was +0.2%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Financial sectors led, while the Utility, Real Estate, and Technology sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …

Dialing Back

June 17, 2024

  Tame inflation data led the S&P 500 and NASDAQ higher last week, even though the Federal Reserve dialed back its projections for interest rate reductions . For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.6%, the Dow was -0.5%, and the NASDAQ was +3.5%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Real Estate, and …

Rate Debate

June 10, 2024

  Markets absorbed strong employment data and finished higher last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4%, the Dow was +0.3%, and the NASDAQ was +2.5%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Health Care, and Communication Services sectors led, while the Utility, Energy, and Materials sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury …