Fundamental Focus

April 17, 2023

  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 10, 2023

  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

April 3, 2023

  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

March 27, 2023

  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

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%, …

Setting the Stage

January 3, 2022

  The U.S. equity markets closed out the year with a positive week. The S&P 500 Index was higher for the week by +0.9%, the Dow was +1.1%, and the NASDAQ was +0.1%. All three major U.S. indices closed the year with solid double-digit gains. Two particular asset class winners this year were oil and …

Last Hand of 21

December 27, 2021

  It was a mostly optimistic holiday week, although COVID-19 was still a background factor. The S&P 500 Index was higher for the week by +2.3%, the Dow was +1.7%, and the NASDAQ was +3.2%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield increased to 1.492% at Thursday’s close versus 1.407% the previous week. The COVID omicron …

Fed Up

December 20, 2021

  The Federal Reserve meeting provided a roadmap for 2022 monetary policy which we think was favorably received by the markets, however, concern surrounding the omicron variant returned following increases in positive testing across several countries. The net effect had the S&P 500 Index lower for the week by -1.9%, the Dow was -1.7% and …

Looking for Santa

December 13, 2021

  Concern surrounding the omicron variant subsided last week and it helped the equity markets bounce off support levels. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.8%, the Dow was +4.0% and the NASDAQ was +3.9%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield increased to 1.478% at Friday’s close versus 1.356% the previous week. The Federal …

Laboring

December 6, 2021

  Continued concerns from the potential impact of the omicron variant, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments that the Fed may need to accelerate the tapering of bond purchases, and a lackluster employment report drove a decline across equity markets. The S&P 500 Index finished the week -1.2%, the Dow was -0.8% and the NASDAQ …

Reservations

November 29, 2021

  The equity markets declined during the holiday shortened week. The steep decline came on Friday following concerns that travel restrictions from the latest COVID variant could negatively impact global growth. The S&P 500 Index finished the week -2.2%, the Dow was -2.0% and the NASDAQ was -3.3%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield decreased …

Checking Sentiment

November 15, 2021

  Following a five-week rally, the S&P 500 Index took a pause last week. The S&P 500 finished the week -0.3%, the Dow was -0.6% and the NASDAQ was -1.0%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield increased to 1.570% at Friday’s close versus 1.455% the previous week. Current forecast for the S&P 500 Index is …

Fed Game Plan

November 8, 2021

  Confirmation from the Federal Reserve that the economy has reached a level improvement that allows a reduction in COVID-era policy accommodation rallied the S&P 500 Index to all-time highs last week. The S&P 500 finished the week +2.0%, the Dow was +1.4% and the NASDAQ was +3.2%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield decreased …

‘Tis the Season

November 1, 2021

  All four weeks in October were positive in the equity markets. This past week, the S&P 500 was +1.3%, the Dow was +0.4% and the NASDAQ was +3.2%. Oil snapped its multi-week rally, finishing down 0.2%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield decreased to 1.554% at Friday’s close versus 1.653% the previous week. Current …

Stocktober

October 25, 2021

  Corporate earnings led the market again last week. Of the 117 companies in the S&P 500 Index that have reported earnings for the quarter, 83.8% have reported earnings above consensus estimates. The S&P 500 was +1.7%, the Dow was +1.1% and the NASDAQ was +1.4%. Oil continued its multi-week rally, +1.8%. The U.S. 10-year …