Mixed Signals

January 20, 2026

  A positive fundamental outlook for stocks risks being blunted by geopolitical concerns. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.3%, and the NASDAQ -0.9%. The Real Estate, Consumer Staples, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financials, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors …

Jump Start

January 12, 2026

  Stocks had a solid first full week of trading in the new year. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.3%, and the NASDAQ +2.2%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Utility, Technology, and Real Estate sectors …

Opening Moves

January 5, 2026

  Stocks posted a positive return on 2026’s first trading day, but a negative return for the week. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.7%, and the NASDAQ -1.7%. The Energy, Utilities, and Industrial sectors all had positive returns and led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while …

Last Call

December 29, 2025

  Stocks head into the final week of trading with double-digit gains for the year. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4 %, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Materials, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and Health …

Christmas Market

December 22, 2025

  Stocks finished mixed again last week. The S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.6%, and the NASDAQ +0.6%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield was …

Mixed

December 15, 2025

  The Federal Reserve followed-through and provided an interest rate cut but concerns over the AI trade left markets mixed last week. The S&P 500 Index finished last week -0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.1%, and the NASDAQ -1.9%. The Materials, Financials and Industrials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Communication Services, Technology, …

Hope for Holiday Easing

December 8, 2025

  Confidence in an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting this week continued to carry stocks. The S&P 500 Index finished last week +0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +1.0%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Utility, Health Care, and …

What’s in Store

December 1, 2025

  A continued shift in expectations toward a Federal Reserve rate cut at its December meeting supported upside in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ 4.9%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Energy, …

Well Fed

November 24, 2025

  Equity markets rallied Friday on December rate cut optimism but closed lower for the week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week -1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.8%, and the NASDAQ -3.0%. The Communication Services, Health Care, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Energy sectors …

No Cents

November 17, 2025

  Equity markets were mixed last week with value-focused stocks outperforming growth-focused stocks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.4%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The Health Care, Energy, and Materials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …