Trade commentaries and earnings results provided momentum for a third straight week of gains. The Nasdaq led with a gain of 1.90% followed by the Russell 2000® Index (1.51%), the S&P 500® Index (1.22%) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (0.70%). With earnings results from approximately 36% of the companies in the S&P 500®, nearly 80% of reporting companies exceeded analysts’ expectations. Companies across many sectors (including Microsoft, Intel, Phillips 66, Boston Scientific, An… View More
Last week the S&P 500® Index (0.54%) posted its second consecutive weekly gain on the strength of corporate earnings. For the week the Russell 2000® Index (1.56%) led the major indices followed by the S&P 500® (0.54%) and the Nasdaq (0.40%) while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -0.17%. The Dow lost ground on reports from Johnson & Johnson of a baby powder recall (due to traces of asbestos) and Boeing (on reports the company failed to disclose “concerning” instant message… View More
The markets closed higher for the week, and ended a three-week losing streak, following Friday’s announcement of a “phase 1” partial trade deal. The White House announced the suspension of tariffs scheduled for this Tuesday on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports; China agreed to purchase between $40 billion and $50 billion of U.S. agricultural goods. For the week, the Nasdaq rose 0.93% followed by the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.91%), the Russell 2000® Index (+0.75%), and the S&… View More
Through September, the S&P 500® Index posted a year-to-date gain of 19%, its best performance since 1997; these results, though, mask the modest 2.2% one-year performance. The equity markets reversed course last Tuesday following the release of the September ISM Manufacturing Index; the 47.8 reading, the lowest level in ten years, heightening recessionary fears. On Friday, the equity markets recovered with a “goldilocks” jobs report. The economy added 136,000 jobs in September and unemp… View More
With non-farm payrolls set to be reported on Friday, the headline September data has, thus far, left something to be desired. While this is far from new news, investors have stretched the growth discount in the opening days of the quarter. While we’d bet better than even money this corrective phase continues in coming weeks, we do not anticipate a re-play of the 4Q’18 experience. For one, despite a weaker Sept. U.S. PMI, global activity gauges have actually improved M/M, a far cry from circu… View More