Cool Jobs

May 6, 2024

  A steady Federal Reserve and a moderating labor market helped stocks rise for a second consecutive week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.6%, the Dow was +1.1%, and the NASDAQ was +1.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Utility, Real Estate, and Technology sectors led the advance, while the Energy, Financials, …

Fundamental Victory

April 29, 2024

  Stocks snapped their three-week losing streak on several strong earnings reports. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.7%, the Dow was +0.7%, and the NASDAQ was +4.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrial sectors led the advance, while the Materials, Health Care, and Communication Services sectors trailed. …

April Showers

April 22, 2024

  Stocks continued their decline for the third consecutive week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -3.0%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was -5.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Utility, Consumer Staples, and Financial sectors had gains for the week, while the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Real Estate sectors had …

Eclipsed

April 8, 2024

  Stocks were eclipsed by strong economic data to start the second quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.9%, the Dow was -2.2%, and the NASDAQ was -0.8%. The best performing sectors in the S&P 500 Index were the Energy, Communication Services, and Materials sectors, while the Health Care, Real Estate, and …

Shiny Quarter

April 1, 2024

  Stocks closed out a strong first quarter of the year with moderate gains during a holiday shortened week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.4%, the Dow was +0.8%, and the NASDAQ was -0.3%. The best performing sectors in the S&P 500 Index were the Utility, Real Estate, and Materials sectors, while …

Steady Feddy

March 25, 2024

  Stocks continued their uptrend last week after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.3%, the Dow was +2.0%, and the NASDAQ was +3.0%. The best performing sectors in the S&P 500 Index were the Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrial sectors, while the Real Estate, …

Stubborn

March 18, 2024

  Stubborn inflation data kept stocks muted last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was -1.2%. The best performing sectors in the S&P 500 Index were the Energy, Materials, and Consumer Staples sectors, while the Real Estate, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors lagged. The …

Both Sides of the Coin

March 11, 2024

  Stocks ended the week on a down note on Friday. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.2%, the Dow was -0.8%, and the NASDAQ was -1.5%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Utility, Real Estate, and Materials sectors, while the Consumer Discretionary, Technology, and Communication Services sectors lagged. The 10-year …

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 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 …

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 …