Stocktober

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 markets […]

Labor Force

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%, the […]

Tailwind

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 yield […]

Start of the Cycle

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 10-year […]

Cut Day

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, and […]

Game On

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 Services. […]

The Time Has Come

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 the […]

Bounce

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 yield […]

Rapid Movement

The S&P 500 Index fell sharply last Monday, down 3% on the day, but slowly gained that back over the course of the week to finish near flat. For the week, the S&P 500 was unchanged, the Dow was -0.6%, and the NASDAQ was +0.4%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Industrial, Energy, and Communication […]

Summer Swoon

Equity markets retreated last week on concerns that rate cuts may come too late to keep the economy from slipping.  For the week, the S&P 500 was -2.0%, the Dow was -2.1%, and the NASDAQ was -3.1%. Within the S&P 500 Index, the Utilities, Real Estate, and Communication Services sectors led the market, while the […]