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MARKET WEEK: NOVEMBER 5, 2018

The Markets (as of market close November 2, 2018)

Stocks posted a solid week of returns for the first time in several weeks, pulling all but one of the major benchmark indexes listed here into positive territory for the year to date. A strong labor report helped push stocks higher at the end of last week, while somewhat positive tweets from President Trump following discussions with Chinese president Xi also helped quell investors’ concerns over the ongoing tariff war. Small caps fared the best last week, led by the Russell 2000. Global stocks also reversed course as the Global Dow climbed over 3.0%. The Nasdaq, S&P 500, and the Dow each posted strong returns by last week’s end. Not surprisingly, long-term bond prices fell, driving yields higher.

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MARKET WEEK: OCTOBER 29, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE OCTOBER 26, 2018)

The benchmark indexes suffered another sharp decline last week. Each of the indexes listed here lost value, led by the Global Dow. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq could be nearing a correction (down more than 10% from recent peaks) following last week’s drop. Equally noteworthy is the fact that all of the year-to-date gains have essentially dissipated, with only the Nasdaq still ahead of last year’s closing value. Quarterly earnings season reached its busiest time, offering a mixed bag with some major corporations posting healthy gains, while other companies reported a slowdown in revenue. Business investment has waned, while oil prices pulled energy stocks down.

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QUARTERLY MARKET REVIEW: JULY-SEPTEMBER 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE SEPTEMBER 28, 2018)

The third quarter proved to be very strong for domestic stocks. July saw the major benchmark indexes listed here enjoy robust gains, led by the large caps of the Dow and S&P 500. Global stocks also rebounded in July, with the Global Dow surging 3.76% by the end of July. Favorable economic indicators and encouraging corporate earnings reports were enough to quell investor concerns over the continuing saga that is the back-and-forth trade tariffs between the United States and China.

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MARKET WEEK: OCTOBER 22, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE OCTOBER 19, 2018)

After a sweat-inducing ride on Wall Street last week, several earnings reports helped ease some of the pain in domestic large caps by Friday’s close. The Dow managed to see a 0.41% rise for the week, while the S&P 500 was relatively unchanged. The Nasdaq, Russell 2000, and Global Dow all saw losses of less than 1%. Observers attributed ongoing volatility to concerns about interest rates and the global economy.

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MARKET WATCH: OCTOBER 15, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE OCTOBER 12, 2018)

Despite a surge at the end of the week, stocks plummeted last week. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost value, led by the small caps of the Russell 2000, which fell over 5.0%. The S&P 500, which rebounded last Friday, suffered through its biggest two-day decline last Wednesday and Thursday since early February. The Cboe Volatility Index shot to its highest level since late March last Thursday as trading volumes soared. The cause of the latest stock dump is hard for analysts to determine, and may be due to a combination of the trade conflict between the United States and China, a weakening global economy, and rising interest rates. As investors moved from equities, some money was pushed to bonds, driving long-term bond yields lower as prices rose.

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MARKET WATCH: OCTOBER 8, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE OCTOBER 5, 2018)

Another tough week on Wall Street as stocks and long-term bond prices fell, pushing yields higher. While each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost value last week, the large caps of the Dow and S&P 500 held up better than the tech stocks of the Nasdaq and the small-cap Russell 2000. With the continuing rise in oil prices, energy stocks and utilities fared well as did financial shares, which benefitted from a spike in interest long-term rates. On the other hand, tech stocks fell, dropping the Nasdaq to its worst week since early spring. Economic news continues to be somewhat encouraging, making another Fed interest rate hike likely. Speaking of interest rates, they’ve been on the rise, pushing long-term bond prices lower and yields higher.

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MARKET WATCH: SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE SEPTEMBER 21, 2018)

Performance of the benchmark indexes listed here was a mixed bag last week. Large caps of the Dow and S&P 500 outperformed the tech stocks of the Nasdaq and the small caps of the Russell 2000. Maybe investors are becoming immune to the ongoing trade battle between the United States and China, as threats of an additional $200 million in U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports didn’t seem to push investors away from stocks. The yield on 10-year Treasuries reached a four-month high last Thursday, ultimately closing at 3.06% by Friday afternoon, as prices for long-term bonds plummeted.

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MARKET WATCH: SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

Tech and foreign stocks led the way as the market rebounded from the prior week’s decline. The prospect of renewed trade talks between China and the United States eased investor concerns. Large caps outperformed small caps as both the Dow and S&P 500 outpaced the Russell 2000. Soft inflation data also helped drive investors to stocks while spurning long-term bonds as prices for 10-year Treasuries plummeted, pushing yields to 3.0%.

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MARKET WATCH: SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE SEPTEMBER 7, 2018)

Apparently a strong labor report, which included increasing wages, wasn’t enough to quell investors’ fears as stocks plummeted last week. President Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on an additional $267 billion in Chinese imports heightened trade war rhetoric and frightened investors. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here felt the heat, particularly the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which sank over 2.50%. The small caps and energy stocks of the Russell 2000 were also hit hard, as was the Global Dow. The S&P 500 dropped over 1.0%. Only the Dow managed to weather the storm, falling a comparatively slight 0.19%. The favorable employment report may be seen as a sign of rising interest rates as demand for long-term bonds increased, sending prices lower and yields up (bond prices move in the opposite direction from bond yields).

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MARKET WATCH: SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

THE MARKETS (AS OF MARKET CLOSE AUGUST 31, 2018)

Trade concerns pushed stocks lower at the end of the week, wiping out some early-week gains. Canada and the United States couldn’t come up with a trade agreement, and a major U.S. auto manufacturer changed its plans to import a car made in China due to increased tariffs. Nevertheless, each of the indexes listed here gained ground on their respective prior week’s value. The Nasdaq led the way for the week and continues to enjoy the largest yearly gain through 2018. The S&P 500 and Dow posted solid gains, while the small-cap stocks of the Russell 2000 pushed that index higher. Only the Global Dow recorded a very modest gain of less than .20%.

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