Launch

January 2, 2024

  The equity markets had a quiet, but positive, last week of the year. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.3%, the Dow was +0.8%, and the NASDAQ was +0.3%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Utility, Consumer Staples, and Real Estate sectors. The Energy, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services …

Skating

December 26, 2023

  Equities skated into the Christmas holiday weekend with eight consecutive weekly gains. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.8%, the Dow was +0.2%, and the NASDAQ was +0.9%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Communication Services, Energy, and Health Care sectors. The Utility and Real Estate sectors lagged. The …

Tight Enough

December 18, 2023

  Equities rallied and bond yields declined as the Federal Reserve projected a decrease in the Fed funds rate for 2024 as the pace of inflation is declining. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +2.5%, the Dow was +2.9%, and the NASDAQ was +3.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the …

Projections

December 11, 2023

  Equities rose modestly as investors await the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +0.2%, the Dow was flat, and the NASDAQ was +0.6%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, and Technology sectors. The Energy, Materials, and Consumer Staples …

Year-End Spend

November 27, 2023

  Equities maintained their upward movement during the holiday shortened week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +1.0%, the Dow was +1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +0.9%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index were positive for the week led by the Health Care, Consumer Staples, and Communication Services sectors. The …

Cooling

November 20, 2023

  Cooling inflation reports combined with a cooling job market data from earlier in the month has sustained the recent equity rally. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +2.3%, the Dow was +2.1%, and the NASDAQ was +2.0%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index were positive for the week led …

Bounce Back

November 6, 2023

  A pause on interest rates at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting followed by a tame employment report helped stocks rally from an oversold condition last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was +5.9%, the Dow was +5.1%, and the NASDAQ was +6.5%. All eleven S&P 500 sectors were positive …

Don’t Get Spooked

October 30, 2023

  Mixed earnings from the mega cap Technology and Communications Services companies and on-going concerns of events in the Middle East sent equity markets down last week. The weekly return for the S&P 500 Index was -2.5%, the Dow was -2.1%, and the NASDAQ was -2.6%. The Utility sector was the only sector with a …