Swings

March 10, 2025

  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

March 3, 2025

  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

February 24, 2025

  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

February 18, 2025

  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

February 10, 2025

  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

February 3, 2025

  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

January 27, 2025

  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

January 21, 2025

  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

January 13, 2025

  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!

January 6, 2025

  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

December 30, 2024

  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

December 23, 2024

  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 …

Fed Finale

December 16, 2024

  The S&P 500 Index fell modestly last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was -0.8%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.8%, and the NASDAQ +0.8%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Technology sectors led the market, while the Materials, Utility and Health Care sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.398% …

Fed On Deck

December 9, 2024

  The November rally continued into the first week of December. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.5%, and the NASDAQ +3.3%. The Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, and Technology sectors led the market, while the Energy, Utility, and Materials sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to …

The Shop is On

December 2, 2024

  The equity markets continued their post-election gains, turning November into the best month of the year. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.4%, and the NASDAQ +0.8%. The Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, and Real Estate sectors led the market, while the Energy, Technology, and Materials sectors lagged. The …

Turkey Trot

November 25, 2024

  The equity markets regained their footing last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.0%, and the NASDAQ +1.9%. The Consumer Staples, Materials, and Utility sectors led the market, while the Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 4.418% …

Not in a Hurry

November 18, 2024

  Stocks gave back some of their post-election gains as concerns over the pace of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve emerged based on comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.0%, the Dow Jones -1.2%, and the NASDAQ -3.4%. The Financial, Energy, and Utility sectors led …

Election Bump

November 11, 2024

  Equity markets rose sharply after the results of the U.S. elections. Equity markets had their best week of the year with the S&P 500 +4.7%, the Dow +4.6%, and the NASDAQ +5.4%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index were positive for the week. The Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Industrial sectors posted the …

Week of Weeks

November 4, 2024

  Equity markets declined for a second week. For the week, the S&P 500 was -1.4%, the Dow -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -1.6%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary sectors posted the only two weekly advances, while the Technology, Real Estate and Utility sectors saw the greatest declines. The 10-year …

Investors Digest

October 28, 2024

  The NASDAQ managed a weekly gain while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones indices declined last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was -1.0%, the Dow -2.7%, and the NASDAQ +0.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Consumer Discretionary, Technology, and Communication Services sectors led the market. The Materials, Health Care, and Industrial …

Campaigning

October 21, 2024

  Equity markets completed a sixth straight winning week. For last week, the S&P 500 was +0.9%, the Dow +1.0%, and the NASDAQ +0.3%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Utility, Real Estate, and Financial sectors led the market. The Energy, Health Care, and Communication Services sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased …

Stocktober

October 14, 2024

  The next few weeks should give investors a lot to digest. The third quarter earnings season is in full swing, there is a hotly contested election in 22 days, and the next monetary policy decision from the Federal Reserve is two days after the election. For last week, optimism won out and U.S. equity …

Labor Force

October 7, 2024

  Labor news had an impact on markets last week. The port workers went on strike on Tuesday and then back to work on Friday, and the September labor market report was well above expectations. Stocks labored most of the week before a relief rally on Friday. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.3%, …

Tailwind

September 30, 2024

  Stocks kept up their post-Fed meeting momentum last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.6%, the Dow was +0.6%, and the NASDAQ was +1.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrial sectors led the market. The Health Care, Energy, and Financial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note …

Start of the Cycle

September 23, 2024

  Stocks advanced as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 0.50%. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.4%, the Dow was +1.7%, and the NASDAQ was +1.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Energy, Communication Services, and Financial sectors led the market. The Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and Health Care sectors lagged. The …

Cut Day

September 16, 2024

  Stocks rallied back last week in anticipation of an easing in monetary policy to be announced this week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.1%, the Dow was +2.6%, and the NASDAQ was +6.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors led the market. The Energy, Financial, …

Game On

September 9, 2024

  September started with downside pressure in the equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 was -4.2%, the Dow was -2.9%, and the NASDAQ was -5.9%. Within the S&P 500 Index, Consumer Staples and Real Estate were the only two positive sectors for the week. The worst performing sectors were Technology, Energy, and Communication …

Back to Work

September 3, 2024

  The equity markets were mixed in the final week of August. For the week, the S&P 500 was +0.3%, the Dow was +1.1%, and the NASDAQ was -2.0%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Financials, Industrials, and Materials sectors led the market, while the Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. The 10-year …

The Time Has Come

August 26, 2024

  The equity market finished higher on the week as Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the time has come for monetary policy to adjust. For the week, the S&P 500 was +1.5%, the Dow was +1.3%, and the NASDAQ was +1.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Real Estate, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led …

Bounce

August 19, 2024

  The equity market bounce continued last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.0%, the Dow was +3.0%, and the NASDAQ was +5.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Financial sectors led the market, while the Real Estate, Communication Services, and Utilities sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note …