In Like a Lion

March 4, 2024

  Stocks have come into March like a lion year-to-date with the S&P 500 Index +8.0%. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.0%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was +2.1%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Real Estate, and Consumer Discretionary sectors, while the Health Care, Consumer Staples, …

Leap Year

February 26, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index leaped back to new highs last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.7%, the Dow was +1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +1.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Staples, Materials, and Industrial sectors, while the Energy, Real Estate, and Communication sectors lagged. All eleven …

Sticky Prices

February 20, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index had only its second weekly loss year-to-date but did stay above the 5,000 level. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow was just a touch positive, and the NASDAQ was -1.5%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Materials, and Utility sectors, while the …

NovaPoint Partnership with AUSA

February 15, 2024

  NovaPoint has partnered with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) as a service provider for their member benefits. For AUSA members seeking financial planning or investment advice, retirement planning as an employee or owner of a business, or accounting and tax planning assistance for individuals or businesses, NovaPoint can be a value-added …

Stock Love

February 12, 2024

  Investors have shown stocks a lot of love so far this year, pushing the S&P 500 Index above the 5,000 level for the first time. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4%, the Dow was +0.1%, and the NASDAQ +1.8%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and …

More Progress is Needed

February 5, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index declined intra-week due to hawkish Federal Reserve comments, but rallied Friday to close at a new high. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4%, the Dow was +1.4%, and the NASDAQ +1.3%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, and Consumer Staples sectors, …

Growing Economy

January 29, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index hit a new record high inter-week before closing lower on Friday. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.1%, the Dow was +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +0.6%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Communication Services, and Financial sectors, while the Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate, and Health …

Fully Recovered

January 22, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index returned to record high territory last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.2%, the Dow was +0.8%, and the NASDAQ +2.9%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Communication Services, and Financial sectors, while the Energy, Utility, and Real Estate sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …

Stop and Go

January 16, 2024

  The major equity indices rebounded from the initial down week of 2024. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.9%, the Dow was +0.4%, and the NASDAQ +3.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Staples sectors, while the Energy, Utility, and Materials sectors lagged. The 10-year …

Slow Start

January 8, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index snapped its nine-week winning streak to open the year down 1.5%. The other major benchmarks also closed lower with the Dow -0.6% and the NASDAQ -3.1%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Health Care, Utility, and Energy sectors, while the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrial sectors lagged. The …

Launch

January 2, 2024

  The equity markets had a quiet, but positive, last week of the year. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.3%, the Dow was +0.8%, and the NASDAQ was +0.3%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Utility, Consumer Staples, and Real Estate sectors. The Energy, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services …

Skating

December 26, 2023

  Equities skated into the Christmas holiday weekend with eight consecutive weekly gains. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.8%, the Dow was +0.2%, and the NASDAQ was +0.9%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Communication Services, Energy, and Health Care sectors. The Utility and Real Estate sectors lagged. The …

Tight Enough

December 18, 2023

  Equities rallied and bond yields declined as the Federal Reserve projected a decrease in the Fed funds rate for 2024 as the pace of inflation is declining. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +2.5%, the Dow was +2.9%, and the NASDAQ was +3.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the …

Projections

December 11, 2023

  Equities rose modestly as investors await the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.2%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was +0.6%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, and Technology sectors. The Energy, Materials, and Consumer Staples …

Year-End Spend

November 27, 2023

  Equities maintained their upward movement during the holiday shortened week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +1.0%, the Dow was +1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +0.9%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index were positive for the week led by the Health Care, Consumer Staples, and Communication Services sectors. The …

Cooling

November 20, 2023

  Cooling inflation reports combined with a cooling job market data from earlier in the month has sustained the recent equity rally. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +2.3%, the Dow was +2.1%, and the NASDAQ was +2.0%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index were positive for the week led …

NovaPoint Earns 2024 Military Friendly ® Employer Designation

November 10, 2023

  Atlanta, Georgia (Nov 10th, 2023) — NovaPoint announced today that it has earned the 2024 Military Friendly ® Employer designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly ® Employer designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over twelve hundred companies participated in the 2024 Military Friendly ® survey. Methodology, …

NovaPoint Supports Veterans Service Organizations

November 9, 2023

  NovaPoint would like to show our respect and appreciation for our nation’s veterans. In their honor, we are making donations to three Veterans Service Organizations: Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, Special Operations Medical Association, and Wreaths Across America. Children of Fallen Patriots provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a …

Bounce Back

November 6, 2023

  A pause on interest rates at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting followed by a tame employment report helped stocks rally from an oversold condition last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +5.9%, the Dow was +5.1%, and the NASDAQ was +6.5%. All eleven S&P 500 sectors were positive …

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Alan Conner Speaking at Private Wealth Latin America & Caribbean Forum – November 2nd

November 1, 2023

  On Thursday, November 2nd, NovaPoint’s president , Alan Conner will be speaking at the Markets Group Private Wealth Latin America & Caribbean Forum in Miami. Alan will be a participant on the forum’s panel, “Fixed Income: Trends Shaping Today’s Landscape”,  with several other investment professionals. The 10th Annual Private Wealth Latin America & the …

Don’t Get Spooked

October 30, 2023

  Mixed earnings from the mega cap Technology and Communications Services companies and on-going concerns of events in the Middle East sent equity markets down last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -2.5%, the Dow was -2.1%, and the NASDAQ was -2.6%. The Utility sector was the only sector with a …

Earnings Watch

October 23, 2023

  Concerns over widening violence in the Middle East pressured financials markets last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -2.4%, the Dow was -1.6%, and the NASDAQ was -2.9%. The Energy sector was the only sector with a positive return for the week. The bottom performing sectors were Health Care, Materials, …

Inside Inflation

October 16, 2023

  The eruption of violence in the Middle East created a demand for safe haven assets last week as treasury bonds, gold, and oil all rose. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.5%, the Dow was +0.8%, and the NASDAQ was +0.1%. The Energy, Utilities, and Real Estate sectors led the market, …

Higher Hiring

October 9, 2023

  The September Employment report pointed to a still strong economy and sparked a market rally on Friday. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.5%, the Dow was -0.2%, and the NASDAQ was +1.8%. The Technology, Communication Services, and Health Care sectors led the market, while the Energy, Consumer Staples, and Utilities …

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Alan Conner Speaking at Private Wealth Carolinas Forum – October 4th

October 2, 2023

  On Wednesday, October 4th, NovaPoint’s president , Alan Conner will be speaking at the Markets Group Private Wealth Carolinas Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alan will be a participant on the forum’s panel, “Fixed Income: Trends Shaping Today’s Landscape”,  with several other investment professionals. The Private Wealth Carolinas Forum is the leading conference for …

Open Government

October 2, 2023

  The U.S. government avoided an October 1st shutdown but legislators were only able to agree on a 45-day extension. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -0.7%, the Dow was -1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +0.1%. The Energy, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors were the only positive sectors in the S&P 500 …

Higher for Longer

September 25, 2023

  The Federal Reserve refrained from raising short-term interest rates last week, but revisions in the Summary of Economic Projections that pointed to a “higher for longer” scenario weighed on stocks. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -2.9%, the Dow was -1.9%, and the NASDAQ was -3.3%. All eleven S&P sectors were …

Energy Jolt

September 18, 2023

  Stocks were mixed last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow was +0.1%, and the NASDAQ was -0.5%. The Utility, Consumer Discretionary, and Financial sectors led the market. The Technology, Industrial, and Materials sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.322% at Friday’s close versus …