Last week ended without a debt ceiling deal, but negotiations over the weekend finally yielded an agreement between the parties. The S&P 500 Index ended the week +0.3%, the Dow was -1.0%, and the NASDAQ was +3.0%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.820% at Friday’s close versus 3.692% the previous week. …
Talks Continue to Continue
Markets ebbed and flowed with the progress of debt talks last week. S&P 500 Index ended the week +1.5%, the Dow was +0.5%, and the NASDAQ was +3.5%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.692% at Friday’s close versus 3.463% the previous week. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is expected to meet with …
Talks Continue
The S&P 500 Index ended the week -0.2%, the Dow was -1.0%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.463% at Friday’s close versus 3.446% the previous week. Debt ceiling discussions continue, and some optimism has been expressed by the White House that a deal can be reached. …
Time to Negotiate
The S&P 500 Index ended the week -2.6%, the Dow was -1.2%, and the NASDAQ was +0.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.446% at Friday’s close versus 3.452% the previous week. As expected, the Federal Reserve raised the Fed funds rate by 0.25% to a 5.00% to 5.25% range. It left …
May Day
The S&P 500 Index ended the week +0.9%, the Dow was +0.9%, and the NASDAQ was +1.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.452% at Friday’s close versus 3.572% the previous week. Regulators closed First Republic Bank over the weekend and sold all of its deposits and most of its assets to …
Slow Play
Despite the rush of individual company earnings reports, the equity markets stayed nearly flat for the week. The S&P 500 Index ended the week -0.1%, the Dow was -0.2%, and the NASDAQ was -0.6%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.572% at Friday’s close versus 3.552% the previous week. First quarter earnings …
Fundamental Focus
The first quarter earnings season is underway. Several of the large banks reported at the end of last week. This week we will hear from a larger and more diversified group of companies. This should keep the focus on individual company fundamentals for the next few weeks leading up to the next Federal Open …
Ducks in a Row
April is off to a modest start in the equity markets. The S&P 500 Index ended the holiday shortened week -0.1%, the Dow was +0.7%, and the NASDAQ was -0.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.383% at Friday’s close versus 3.490% the previous week. The March employment report showed 236,000 new …
Out Like a Lion
Earlier last month we mentioned March had come in like a lion. Then came the banking crisis. As the crisis began to resolve, investor confidence returned and March went out like a lion. The S&P 500 Index ended the last week of March +3.5%, the Dow was +3.2%, and the NASDAQ was +3.3%. The …
Calming Effect
The equity markets rose last week as some stability returned to the banking system and the Federal Reserve signaled it was nearing the final increases in its monetary policy tightening cycle. The S&P 500 Index ended the week +1.4%, the Dow was +1.2%, and the NASDAQ was +2.0%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …
Savings Time
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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% …
Good-Bye 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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. …