Balancing Act

March 20, 2023

  The equity markets had a volatile week as risk appetite fluctuated with developments in the banking sector. The S&P 500 Index end the week +1.5%, the Dow was -0.1%, and the NASDAQ was +5.8%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.423% at Friday’s close versus 3.699% the previous week. The Federal Open …

Savings Time

March 13, 2023

  The equity markets fell sharply at the end of last week prompted by stability concerns in the banking sector after the closure of Silicon Valley Bank.  The S&P 500 Index ended the week -4.5%, the Dow was -4.3%, and the NASDAQ was -3.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.695% at Friday’s …

In like a Lion

March 6, 2023

  The equity markets have gotten off to a good start for March. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.0%, the Dow was +1.9%, and the NASDAQ was +2.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.963% at Friday’s close versus 3.949% the previous week. Comments from Federal Reserve officials that the Federal …

Shiver

February 27, 2023

  The equity markets have gone cold in February with the S&P 500 Index declining for three consecutive weeks. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.7%, the Dow was -3.0%, and the NASDAQ was -3.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.949% at Friday’s close versus 3.828% the previous week. The January …

Inflation Ain’t Dead Yet

February 20, 2023

  Higher than expected inflation reports struck a cautionary tone in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index was -0.2%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was +0.5%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.828% at Friday’s close versus 3.743% the previous week. The January Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price …

Investors can be Fickle

February 13, 2023

  Investors did not show stocks much love last week as the market retreated after a strong start to the year. The S&P 500 Index was -1.1%, the Dow was -0.1%, and the NASDAQ was -2.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.743% at Friday’s close versus 3.532% the previous week. Last week …

Gobs of Jobs

February 6, 2023

  The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) decision to slow the pace of rate increases to 0.25% increments gave markets an optimistic boost mid-week, but the gains were tempered on Friday when the January employment report showed a still hot job market. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.6%, the Dow was -0.2%, …

Downshift

January 30, 2023

  After a dismal 2022, stocks have staged a comeback so far in early 2023. This past week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.5%, the Dow was +1.8%, and the NASDAQ was +4.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.518% at Friday’s close versus 3.484% the previous week. The significant event for the …

The Rubber Meets the Road

January 23, 2023

  Equity markets were mixed last week. The S&P 500 was -0.6%, the Dow was -2.7%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.484% at Friday’s close versus 3.511% the previous week. The December Producer Price Index (PPI) was -0.5% month-to-month and core PPI (which excludes food, energy, and …

Early Optimism

January 17, 2023

  Equity markets continued their advance last week. The S&P 500 was +2.7%, the Dow was +2.0%, and the NASDAQ was +4.5%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.551% at Friday’s close versus 3.571% the previous week. The December Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 0.1% month-to-month and core CPI, which excludes the Food …

Melt Up

January 9, 2023

  Equity markets kicked off the new year with an advance. The S&P 500 was +1.5%, the Dow was +1.5%, and the NASDAQ was +0.9% as Friday’s release of the December employment report sparked a strong rally to end the week. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.571% at Friday’s close versus 3.831% …

Once More Unto the Breach

January 3, 2023

  Equity markets ended the week down modestly and the year down substantially. For the week, the S&P 500 was -0.1%, the Dow was -0.2%, and the NASDAQ was -0.4%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.831% at Friday’s close versus 3.747% the previous week. This week’s major economic release is the December …

Good-Bye 2022

December 27, 2022

  Equity markets were mixed last week. The S&P 500 was -0.2% for the week, the Dow was +0.9%, and the NASDAQ was -2.3%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.747% at Friday’s close versus 3.482% the previous week. Small but steady improvement continues on the inflation front. The November Personal Consumption Expenditures …

Winter Recess

December 19, 2022

  Equity markets took another ride last week. Optimism was high early in the week following a Consumer Price Index (CPI) report that showed slowing inflation, but pessimism returned following the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting which indicated the final level on short-term interest rates is projected to be higher than previously expected. The …

Naughty or Nice?

December 12, 2022

  Equity markets retrenched last week after the November Producer Price Index (PPI) showed inflation to be stickier than anticipated. The S&P 500 was -3.3% for the week, the Dow was -2.7%, and the NASDAQ was -3.6%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.567% at Friday’s close versus 3.503% the previous week. The …

Labor Strength

December 5, 2022

  Equity markets gained last week after supportive comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that the Fed could start slowing the pace of interest rate increases. The S&P 500 was +1.2% for the week, the Dow was +0.4%, and the NASDAQ was +2.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.503% at Friday’s …

The Homestretch

November 28, 2022

  With 24 stock market trading days left for the year, we are in the homestretch for what has been a dismal 2022. This past week, equity markets gained during the Thanksgiving holiday shortened week. The S&P 500 was +1.6%, the Dow was +1.8%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …

A Wing and a Leg

November 21, 2022

  Equity markets consolidated last week after a large advance the week prior. The S&P 500 was -0.6%, the Dow was +0.1%, and the NASDAQ was -1.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.818% at Friday’s close versus 3.893% the previous week. Following on the heels of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) …

Animal Spirits

November 14, 2022

  Better than expected Consumer Price Index data let pent up animal spirits run wild last Thursday and Friday. Stocks advanced sharply for the week with the S&P 500 +5.9%, the Dow was +4.2%, and the NASDAQ was +8.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.893% at Thursday’s close versus 4.158% the previous …

Examining Midterms

November 7, 2022

  Stocks declined last week as the Federal Reserve did not indicate it was ready to cease its interest rate increase cycle. For the week, the S&P 500 was -3.3%, the Dow was -1.4%, and the NASDAQ was -5.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.158% at Friday’s close versus 4.010% the previous …

Frankenstocks

October 31, 2022

  Stocks have tried to come back from the dead, rallying for a second consecutive week and are on track to turn in a strong month for October. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.0%, the Dow was +5.7%, and the NASDAQ was +2.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 4.010% at …

Storm Before the Calm

October 24, 2022

  Stocks rallied on a combination of good earnings results and hope that the Fed would soon slow the pace of interest rate increases. The S&P 500 was +4.8%, the Dow was +4.9%, and the NASDAQ was +5.8%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.212% at Friday’s close versus 4.006% the previous week. …

FX Effects

October 17, 2022

  Stocks rallied on Thursday despite higher-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, then fell back on Friday for a mixed finish to the week. The S&P 500 was -1.5%, the Dow was +1.2%, and the NASDAQ was -3.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.006% at Friday’s close versus 3.885% the previous week. …

Navigating Earnings

October 10, 2022

  The equity market rebounded strongly at the start of last week but declined sharply on Friday following a stronger employment report. Despite Friday’s decline, the major markets held on to gains for the week. The S&P 500 was +1.6%, the Dow was +2.0%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …

Another Quarter Down

October 3, 2022

  The equity markets closed out their third consecutive down quarter last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was -2.9%, the Dow was -2.9%, and the NASDAQ was -3.0%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.804% at Friday’s close versus 3.697% the previous week. For the third quarter, the S&P 500 Index …

Grand Central Banking

September 26, 2022

  A determined Federal Reserve marching along with another 0.75% increase in short-term interest rates gave investors pause again last week. The S&P 500 was -4.6% for the week, the Dow was -4.0%, and the NASDAQ was -4.6%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.697% at Friday’s close versus 3.447% the previous week. …

We’re Not There Yet

September 19, 2022

  Inflationary concerns in the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, released last week, sent stocks lower as there is not yet sufficient data to deter the Federal Reserve from its path of increasing interest rates. The S&P 500 Index was -4.7% for the week, the Dow was -4.1%, and the NASDAQ was -5.8%. The …

Bounce

September 12, 2022

  Despite comments from the Federal Reserve that it would keep raising rates until the job is done on inflation, equities rallied during the short four-day trading week. The S&P 500 was +3.7% for the week, the Dow was +2.7%, and the NASDAQ was +4.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.321% at …

Back to Work

September 6, 2022

  Equities both ended August and began September on a down note. Friday’s employment report from the labor market showed a still healthy labor market, which investors viewed as a signal the Federal Reserve would be diligent with rate increases during upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. The S&P 500 was -3.2% for the …

Down the Jackson Hole

August 29, 2022

  Equities fell on Friday following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that the Federal Reserve plans to keep raising interest rates to bring down inflation. The S&P 500 was -4.0% for the week, the Dow was -4.2%, and the NASDAQ was -4.8%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.087% at Friday’s …