The equity markets responded positively to the first week of first quarter earnings. Of the 44 companies in the S&P 500 Index that have reported earnings to date for the first quarter, 84.1% have reported earnings above analyst estimates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week +1.2%, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4% …
Calm Before the Earnings Storm
The S&P 500 Index added to an impressive first quarter return by posting a 2.1% return in the first week of 2019’s second quarter. Economic and trade optimism buoyed equity markets. Later this week, the first quarter earnings season kicks off with major banks J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and PNC announcing their quarterly …
In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb
The S&P 500 closed out its best first quarter since 2009. The quarter came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. The giant January rebound (+8.0%) stepped down to more normal returns in February (+3.2%) and March (+1.9%). The quarterly gain almost erased the steep decline from the fourth quarter of …
Upbeat Week Heading into Next Fed Meeting
The 2.9% move in the S&P 500 Index this past week erased the previous week’s 2.0% decline. The market shrugged off global economic worries and posted its best single week since last November. The U.S.-China trade meter shifted back to optimism this week. Oil continued its advance as well. WTI Crude was +4.4% for the …
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