Stocks were sharply higher (S&P 500 +6.6%), breaking the multi-week downward trend. As we covered in recent weeks, stocks rallied on a large oversold condition and extremely negative sentiment. The best sectors were consumer discretionary (+9.3%), energy (+8.2%), technology (+8.1%), and financials (+8.1%); the worst sectors were healthcare (+3.3%) and communication services (+3.6%). What we’ve found notable about the market’s rally over the last week is that it hasn’t put any dent in … View More
May 2022
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U.S. equities fell (-3.0% for the S&P 500) for the seventh straight week. The DJIA fell for the eighth week in a row, the longest losing streak since 1923. The S&P 500 briefly dipped into 20+% decline territory, the traditional definition of a bear market. Multiple bearish themes dominated the dialogue. Three sectors were up for the week: energy (+1.4%), healthcare (+0.9%), and utilities (+0.4%); worst sectors were consumer staples (-8.6%) and consumer discretionary (-7.4%). The Federal… View More
U.S. equities were lower last week (S&P 500 -2.4%) for the sixth straight week (the longest stretch in over ten years). During the midweek selloff, the S&P 500 hit the lowest point since March 2021 and the NASDAQ since November 2020. The bearish case for equities focused on monetary tightening, persistent inflation, China COVID lockdowns, recession fears, and extended valuations. The only positive sector for the week was consumer staples (+0.3%); the worst sectors were REITs (-3.9%) and … View More
Equities fell last week with the S&P 500 down 0.2%, masking a huge rally on Wednesday and a big decline on Thursday. This was the fifth straight week of equity market decline. Equities fell due to headwinds from a continued back-up in yields (10-year yields were up 24 basis points). Best sectors were energy (+10.2%) and utilities (+1.3%); worst sectors were REITs (-3.8%) and consumer discretionary (-3.4%). 1Q Earnings Season In Line With Historical Average; Outlooks More Worrisome With mo… View More
The vast majority of Strategas’s published research reports can trace their origins to questions from clients we receive when they are on the road. What follows are some simple answers to the questions they are currently getting most frequently. We are happy to hop on a call to discuss them in greater detail should you have further questions about their answers. 1. What is your most non-consensus view? Where do you think the consensus is potentially most offsides? We have a relatively high co… View More
"Transitory" is out, "expeditious" is in. As most investors expected, the Fed raised short-term interest rates by half a percentage point (50 basis points) earlier today, leaving the range for the federal funds rate at 0.75 – 1.00%. The 50 bp rate hike was the largest at any one time since May 2000, near the peak of the first internet boom. And at least two more 50 bp hikes are likely at the meetings in June and July. Prior to the meeting, we had anticipated a half percentage point rate hike … View More
Equities were sharply lower last week (S&P 500 -3.3%) as stocks made their lowest close of the year. The week was capped off by a big Friday selloff. Some suggest risks are skewed toward a near-term rally given factors, including weak sentiment, low positioning, and oversold conditions. Treasuries were little changed, pausing after the big backup in yields over recent weeks. Best sectors were materials (-0.8%) and technology (-1.3%); worst sectors were consumer discretionary (-7.9%) and REIT… View More