Economic Update
Market Week: August 29, 2022
The Markets (as of market close August 26, 2022)
Despite evidence that inflation may be slowing, the central bank is committed to fighting inflation, according to last Friday’s speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Wall Street may have held out hope that the Fed would scale back its aggressive bent to reel in rising prices, but that wish apparently turned to disappointment after Powell stated that “Restoring price stability will likely require maintaining a restrictive policy stance for some time.” In response, traders moved away from stocks, sending each of the benchmark indexes listed here notably lower. All 11 market sectors of the S&P 500 closed lower, with information technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary declining the furthest. Ten-year Treasury yields closed last week up 5.0 basis points. Crude oil prices rose over $3.00 but remained well below $100 per barrel. The dollar advanced, while gold prices slid lower.
Market Week: August 22, 2022
The Markets (as of market close August 19, 2022)
The four-week rally for stocks came to an end last week. Investors turned cautious after Fed officials continued to support more interest-rate hikes. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost ground, with the S&P 500 declining for the first time in five weeks. Yields on 10-year Treasuries climbed 14.0 basis points. The dollar had its best week since April 2020. Crude oil prices fell by nearly $2.00 per barrel. Gold plunged lower, falling nearly $60.00 per ounce. Traders saw the stock of a large retailer fall more than 40.0%, and cryptocurrency-linked stocks declined.
Market Week: August 15, 2022
The Markets (as of market close August 12, 2022)
The stock market posted its fourth straight weekly advance, the longest consecutive weekly rally of 2022. Investors turned to stocks on the premise that the Federal Reserve may reduce the pace of its economic tightening campaign after three major indicators showed that inflation subsided in July. With this week’s performance, the S&P 500 has recouped half of its losses from the beginning of the year. The Nasdaq has risen over 20.0% from its low in June. With corporate earnings season about finished, traders are now assessing the direction of the economy. Even if the Fed continues its hawkish push to get inflation down to the 2.0% target, the economy has thus far been resilient, with the labor market continuing to show strength while corporate earnings have been generally positive. Crude oil prices have remained under $100.00 per barrel for three weeks, gold prices have nearly recovered all their losses from the beginning of the year, and consumer sentiment is on the rise. By the end of last week, each of the benchmark indexes listed here climbed by at least 2.9%, led by the Russell 2000, which rose nearly 5.0%. Ten-year Treasury yields broke even, crude oil prices increased nearly 4.0%, gold prices advanced about 1.5%, and the dollar slipped marginally.
Market Week: August 8, 2022
The Markets (as of market close August 5, 2022)
Stocks closed last week generally higher. A surprisingly strong labor report for July helped alleviate recession fears, but opened the door to more interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve as it continues to slow inflation. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished higher for the third straight week, the longest weekly rally since April. The Russell 2000 also enjoyed a solid week. The Dow and the Global Dow dipped lower. The apparent strength of the labor sector seemingly lends credence to the Fed’s premise that the economy is resilient enough to withstand larger interest-rate increases. A 75-basis point rate increase is now more likely when the Fed meets next in September. More rate hikes may pose a challenge for interest-sensitive stocks, like tech shares. Nevertheless, recent strong corporate earnings reports, coupled with strength in the labor sector, should bolster economic sentiment. Last week, crude oil prices posted the largest weekly loss since April after decreasing nearly $10.00 per barrel. Signs of a global economic slowdown has curbed demand, sending prices to their lowest level in six months. Falling crude oil prices are helping drive gasoline prices lower, with several states now posting average regular gasoline prices below $4.00 per gallon.
Market Week: August 1, 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 29, 2022)
Positive economic news and corporate earnings data helped drive stocks higher last week. Although the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates another 75 basis points, investors may expect subsequent rate increases to be no more than 75 basis points, with the possibility of a slowdown in rate hikes in the not-too-distant future. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here gained at least 2.9%, with the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Russell 2000 climbing more than 4.0%. Ten-year Treasury yields fell for the third consecutive week. Crude oil prices increased for the first time in four weeks. Gold prices jumped nearly $57.00 per ounce, while the dollar dipped lower.
Market Month: July 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 29, 2022)
July saw the stock market ebb and flow throughout the month. Sometimes the market reacted in response to news of some sort. Other times, stocks moved in anticipation of something that may happen. For instance, the latest quarterly corporate earnings reports generally have been better than expected, with about 75% of the S&P 500 companies beating analysts’ estimates. However, investors responded negatively following reports that a major retailer was slashing its profit outlook. On the other hand, traders moved to equities following a strong labor report early in the month. The latest Consumer Price Index rose higher than expected, indicating inflation was not close to retreating. Following that report, investors retreated from equities, anticipating that the Federal Reserve would accelerate its tightening policy and raise interest rates more than 75 basis points. In fact, at the end of the month, the Fed bumped up interest rates 75 basis points, as expected. Interestingly, the market jumped higher after the latest interest-rate hike. Investors replaced anticipation of an acceleration in rate increases with expectations that the Fed may not need to be as aggressive as some had feared. Nevertheless, rising inflation, which has led to multiple interest rate hikes, supply bottlenecks, decelerating gross domestic product, the emergence of new COVID strains, and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war promoted fears of an economic recession. Yet, there is enough favorable economic data to offer some hope.
Market Week: July 25, 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 22, 2022)
Stocks ended last week in the black, with the market posting its best week in a month. Despite a late-week decline, each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid weekly gains, led by the Russell 2000 and the Nasdaq. Bond prices rose, pulling yields lower. Crude oil prices ended a volatile week down by about $3.00 per barrel. The dollar edged lower, while gold prices advanced.
Market Week: July 18, 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 15, 2022)
Despite a late-week rally, stocks ended last week lower. A strong retail sales report for June showed continued economic strength, even in the face of rising inflation and concerns over an economic recession. Investors still aren’t totally sold on risk, however. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here ended last week lower, led by the Global Dow, which fell more than 2.0%. Year to date, the Nasdaq is nearing a 30.0% downturn from its value at the end of 2021. Crude oil prices fell by nearly $7.00 to end the week below $100 per barrel. The dollar continued to rise, while gold prices faltered. Fed rate hikes and fears of a recession have sent the dollar to the highest level since March 2020.
Market Week: July 11, 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 8, 2022)
Last Friday’s strong jobs report may have alleviated fears of a recession for the time being, but it also likely supported a more aggressive response from the Federal Reserve as it tries to dampen rising inflation. Stocks started July on a strong note, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here posting solid gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, which has been hit hard during the first half of the year, gained over 4.5%, although it remains more than 25.0% below its 2021 year-end value. The small caps of the Russell 2000, down more than 21.0% from the beginning of the year, jumped nearly 2.5% higher last week. Wall Street is likely to see volatility continue until investors see signs that the Fed is backing off its current path of rate increases. With corporate earnings season right around the corner, traders will focus on company forecasts as well as inflation data to assess the health of the economy.
Market Week: July 5, 2022
The Markets (as of market close July 1, 2022)
Despite an end-of-week surge, stocks closed last week lower. Recession fears resulted in traders moving to bonds, driving prices higher and yields lower. As another round of corporate earnings reports nears, investors are bracing for weaker results, which could dampen trader sentiment and send stocks tumbling lower. With last Friday marking the start of the second half of the year, stocks are likely to continue to ride the volatility train. By the end of last week, each of the indexes listed here slid lower, led by the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Ten-year Treasury yields fell 25 basis points. The dollar rose marginally. Gold prices dipped lower. Crude oil prices climbed higher.