Equity markets gained last week after supportive comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that the Fed could start slowing the pace of interest rate increases. The S&P 500 was +1.2% for the week, the Dow was +0.4%, and the NASDAQ was +2.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.503% at Friday’s …
The Homestretch
With 24 stock market trading days left for the year, we are in the homestretch for what has been a dismal 2022. This past week, equity markets gained during the Thanksgiving holiday shortened week. The S&P 500 was +1.6%, the Dow was +1.8%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …
A Wing and a Leg
Equity markets consolidated last week after a large advance the week prior. The S&P 500 was -0.6%, the Dow was +0.1%, and the NASDAQ was -1.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.818% at Friday’s close versus 3.893% the previous week. Following on the heels of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) …
Animal Spirits
Better than expected Consumer Price Index data let pent up animal spirits run wild last Thursday and Friday. Stocks advanced sharply for the week with the S&P 500 +5.9%, the Dow was +4.2%, and the NASDAQ was +8.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 3.893% at Thursday’s close versus 4.158% the previous …
Examining Midterms
Stocks declined last week as the Federal Reserve did not indicate it was ready to cease its interest rate increase cycle. For the week, the S&P 500 was -3.3%, the Dow was -1.4%, and the NASDAQ was -5.9%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.158% at Friday’s close versus 4.010% the previous …
Frankenstocks
Stocks have tried to come back from the dead, rallying for a second consecutive week and are on track to turn in a strong month for October. For the week, the S&P 500 was +4.0%, the Dow was +5.7%, and the NASDAQ was +2.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 4.010% at …
Storm Before the Calm
Stocks rallied on a combination of good earnings results and hope that the Fed would soon slow the pace of interest rate increases. The S&P 500 was +4.8%, the Dow was +4.9%, and the NASDAQ was +5.8%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.212% at Friday’s close versus 4.006% the previous week. …
FX Effects
Stocks rallied on Thursday despite higher-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, then fell back on Friday for a mixed finish to the week. The S&P 500 was -1.5%, the Dow was +1.2%, and the NASDAQ was -3.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 4.006% at Friday’s close versus 3.885% the previous week. …
Navigating Earnings
The equity market rebounded strongly at the start of last week but declined sharply on Friday following a stronger employment report. Despite Friday’s decline, the major markets held on to gains for the week. The S&P 500 was +1.6%, the Dow was +2.0%, and the NASDAQ was +0.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield …
Another Quarter Down
The equity markets closed out their third consecutive down quarter last week. For the week, the S&P 500 was -2.9%, the Dow was -2.9%, and the NASDAQ was -3.0%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.804% at Friday’s close versus 3.697% the previous week. For the third quarter, the S&P 500 Index …
Grand Central Banking
A determined Federal Reserve marching along with another 0.75% increase in short-term interest rates gave investors pause again last week. The S&P 500 was -4.6% for the week, the Dow was -4.0%, and the NASDAQ was -4.6%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.697% at Friday’s close versus 3.447% the previous week. …
We’re Not There Yet
Inflationary concerns in the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, released last week, sent stocks lower as there is not yet sufficient data to deter the Federal Reserve from its path of increasing interest rates. The S&P 500 Index was -4.7% for the week, the Dow was -4.1%, and the NASDAQ was -5.8%. The …
Bounce
Despite comments from the Federal Reserve that it would keep raising rates until the job is done on inflation, equities rallied during the short four-day trading week. The S&P 500 was +3.7% for the week, the Dow was +2.7%, and the NASDAQ was +4.1%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.321% at …
Down the Jackson Hole
Equities fell on Friday following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that the Federal Reserve plans to keep raising interest rates to bring down inflation. The S&P 500 was -4.0% for the week, the Dow was -4.2%, and the NASDAQ was -4.8%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 3.087% at Friday’s …
Housing Developments
After a strong, four-week run, the market retreated last week. Weakness in housing market data, a mixed set of earnings from retailers, and commentary in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes from July may have given some investors pause on where the economy goes from here. The S&P 500 was -1.2% for …
Flattening Prices
Markets rose last week as investors viewed the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports as a sign the pace of inflation has peaked. The S&P 500 was +3.3% for the week, the Dow was +3.0%, and the NASDAQ was +2.7%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 2.849% …
Summer Jobs
The S&P 500 Index had a third consecutive weekly increase, though more muted than the previous two weeks. The S&P 500 was 0.4% for the week, the Dow was -0.1%, and the NASDAQ was +2.0%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield increased to 2.840% at Friday’s close versus 2.642% the previous week. Continued strength …
Dog Days
The S&P 500 Index had its first back-to-back weekly gain since the end of March. The S&P 500 Index was +4.3% for the week, the Dow was +3.0%, and the NASDAQ was +4.5%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield decreased to 2.642% at Friday’s close versus 2.781% the previous week. The market shrugged off …
The End of the Beginning
The equity markets put together back-to-back winning weeks as the economy and COVID-19 news is less worse than it was potentially forecast to be just a few weeks ago. The curve appears to be flattening on COVID, select parts of the U.S. are set to be opened this month, and most of the early …
Looking Under the Hood
Global equity markets had a strong recovery rally last week as scenarios begin to firm up of when the COVID-19 peaks in various countries and the global economy begins to re-open. While the social and economic recovery is likely to last several months or longer, the financial markets tend to anticipate outcomes and a …
Waiting on Normal
The equity market gave back some of its recent gains last week, but volatility also decreased which we view as a welcome signal relative to the higher levels of volatility we’ve seen over the past few weeks. Uncertain timing on a return to normalcy in society and the economy is likely to weigh on …
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 …