The Federal Reserved lowered short-term interest rates by 0.25% and equity markets responded with gains. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.1%, and the NASDAQ +2.2%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Real …
Here Comes the Fed
Markets were buoyed last week by economic data that could favor a reduction in interest rates at the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.0%, and the NASDAQ +1.9%. The Technology, Utility, and Energy sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, …
The Iced Tea Leaves
The market bounced back last week on generally upbeat earnings reports across several sectors. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.4%, and the NASDAQ +3.7%. The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Health Care, and …
Grinding
The enactment of tariffs on countries that have not yet reached a trade deal and a weaker employment report for July sent stocks lower. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.9%, and the NASDAQ -2.2%. The Utility, Communication Services, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 …
Earnings Focus
Stocks remained near all-time highs during the first week of the quarterly earnings reporting period. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ +1.3%. The Technology, Utility, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Health Care, and Materials …
The Tariff is in the Mail
A resurgence of tariff announcements put a pause in the recent rally. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.0%, and the NASDAQ -0.4%. The Materials, Financials, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Communication Services, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. …
Positive Vibes
De-escalation in the Middle East and a return to new highs for equities has set a positive feeling as investors reach midyear. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +3.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.8%, and the NASDAQ +4.2%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index for …
Wait and See
Markets closed flat following a week that included an update of economic projections from the Federal Reserve. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.1%, and the NASDAQ was flat. The Energy, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Health Care, …
Summer Solstice
Conflict in the Middle East put a pause in the market advance last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.3%, and the NASDAQ -0.6%. The Energy, Health Care, and Utilities sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financial, Industrial, and Consumer Staples …
Labor Market Calm
A healthy labor market report kept stocks in the green last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Energy sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary sectors …
May Flowered
Equities posted a positive week, capping off a strong May recovery that pushed the major U.S. indices into positive territory for the year. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.7%, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. For the month, the S&P 500 Index was +6.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials …
Yield Sign
Rising bond yields put a halt to recent momentum in stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.4%, and the NASDAQ -1.5%. All eleven S&P 500 sectors declined. The Consumer Staples, Communication Services, and Materials sectors declined the least and the Energy, Technology, and Real …
Trade Up
An initial trade deal with the United Kingdom and an uneventful Federal Reserve meeting held markets to a small decline last week after back to-back positive weeks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Industrial, …
Trade Dialogue
While there is currently a 90-day pause on the implementation of some tariffs, the impact and timing of trade negotiations with multiple countries presents a risk that is causing some investors to be tentative in buying equities. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.7%, and the NASDAQ -2.3%. …
Pause
A 90-day pause in the U.S. tariff implementation plan provided equities a large relief rally last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +5.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +5.0%, and the NASDAQ +7.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Industrial, and Communication Services sectors, while the Energy, Real Estate …
Tariff Overhang
Fear trumped greed to lead equity markets lower last week, mainly from concern over the economic impact of pending tariffs. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.0%, and the NASDAQ -2.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Staples, Energy, and Real Estate sectors, while …
Policy Path
The S&P 500 Index finished the week higher to break its four-week losing streak. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +0.3%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Financial, and Health Care sectors, while the Materials, Utility, and Consumer Staples sectors …
Relief Rally
The equity market saw a welcome relief rally on Friday but closed lower for the week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials -3.0%, and the NASDAQ -2.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Utility, and Financial sectors, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and …
Swings
Uncertainty caused by new policies such as lower government spending and tariffs to shape trade has weighed on the equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -3.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.3%, and the NASDAQ -3.2%. All sectors in the S&P 500 Index were lower for the week with the smallest …
Out Like a Lamb
Despite a strong showing on Friday, the S&P 500 Index closed lower for both the week and month. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.0%, and the NASDAQ -3.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Financial, Real Estate, and Health Care sectors, while the Technology, …
Follow the Money
The S&P 500 Index experienced both a new all-time high and its worst down day of the year last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.5%, and the NASDAQ -2.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Utility, Health Care, and Energy sectors, while the …
Information Flow
Equity markets rebounded last week as investors continue to absorb new information on the economy, government spending, and proposed tariffs at rapid speed. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +2.5%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer …
Love in the Time of Tariffs
Mexico and Canada made border security concessions to avoid tariffs going into effect, but more tariff proposals may be looming for other countries. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.5%, and the NASDAQ +0.1%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and …
Trade Offs
Concerns about Chinese AI competition, a Federal Reserve policy meeting, a mix of earnings reports, and news on tariffs led to a volatile week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.3%, and the NASDAQ -1.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Communication Services, Consumer Staples, …
Action
The S&P 500 Index hit a new high last week before closing lower on Friday. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.8%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.6%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Communication Services, Health Care, and Industrial sectors, while the Energy, Materials, and Consumer …
Transition
A more constructive outlook on inflation gave equity markets a boost last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +2.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.7%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Financials, and Materials sectors, while the Health Care, Consumer Staples, and Communication Services sectors …
Job Strength
Higher bond yields and a strong December employment report weighed on stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.8%, and the NASDAQ -2.2%. The only three positive sectors in the S&P 500 Index for the week were the Energy, Health Care, and Materials sectors. The …
And We’re Off!
The equity markets ended the last few days of 2024 on a down note but have shown a positive return so far in 2025. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.6%, and the NASDAQ -0.7%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Utility, and Real …
Last Call
Equities had a modest advance during the holiday shortened week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.4%, and the NASDAQ +0.9%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Health Care, and Communication Services sectors, while the Materials, Consumer Staples, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year …
Evolving
Equities declined last week after the Federal Reserve reduced its outlook for the number of interest rate reductions it plans for 2025. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.2%, and the NASDAQ -2.3%. All eleven S&P sectors declined with the Technology, Utility, and Financial sectors declining the …